US Gains 177,000 Jobs in April, Unemployment Holds at 4.2%

The latest Labor Department report shows the US economy added 177,000 new positions in April, a figure that aligns with forecaster expectations and suggests a measured but steady hiring pace. Unemployment remained at 4.2%, historically low though slightly higher than last year’s trough. Growth was evident in health care, where clinics and hospitals boosted staff to meet patient needs, and in transportation and warehousing as deliveries and supply logistics remained robust. By contrast, retail and manufacturing saw slower or flat hiring, indicating that ongoing trade tensions and shifts in consumer spending may be restraining certain sectors. Wage growth keeps pace with inflation in many professions, though concerns persist that the global economy and new tariffs could weigh on future job expansion. Analysts believe the report supports a “soft landing,” in which job gains continue at a more moderate clip without triggering a recession or major unemployment spikes.