Hiring likely continued at a brisk pace in April as investors look for any cracks in the labor market that could sway the Federal Reserve. Nonfarm payrolls are expected to show a gain of 240,000 for the month, according to the Dow Jones consensus that also sees the unemployment rate holding steady at 3.8%. If that top-line number is accurate, it actually would reflect a small step back from the average 276,000 jobs a month created so far in 2024. In addition, such growth could add to the Fed’s reluctance to lower interest rates, with the labor market humming along and inflation still above the central bank’s 2% ... (full story)