Nonfarm jobs were higher than expected even as the federal government downsized.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported an increase of 177,000 nonfarm jobs during April. This is more than economists expected, having previously estimated a growth of 133,000 for last month.
“Employment continued to trend up in health care, transportation and warehousing, financial activities, and social assistance,” the bureau stated. “Federal government employment declined.”
Approximately 9,000 federal jobs were eliminated in April, and 26,000 federal jobs have been cut since January. Federal workers being paid in severance have not yet been counted in these statistics.
Unemployment for April remained at 4.2 percent. Wages also grew year over year, with hourly earnings increasing from $34.75 in April 2024 to $36.06 last month. Labor force participation and employment-to-population ratios also increased for the month of March.
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For Secretary Chavez-DeRemer to receive God’s direction as she manages the Labor Department.
- For Commissioner Erika McEntarfer as she heads the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Sources: UPI News, Business Insider, MSN
