Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 266,000 in April, and the unemployment rate was little changed at 6.1 percent, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Notable job gains in leisure and hospitality, other services, and local government education were partially offset by employment declines in temporary help services and in couriers and messengers. This news release presents statistics from two monthly surveys. The household survey measures labor force status, including unemployment, by demographic characteristics. The establishment survey measures nonfarm employment, hours, and earnings by ... (full story)

The U.S. economy added 266,000 jobs last month — way short of the nearly 1 million jobs economists were expecting. The unemployment rate ticked higher to 6.1%. Why it matters: It points to disappointing progress for the labor market's recovery, even as the economy makes strides toward a full reopening. The number of jobs added in March was also revised downward from 916,000 to 770,000. The gain in jobs in April was barely enough to keep up with population growth, let alone to recover from the pandemic’s layoffs. Economists were hoping for a figure roughly 1 million jobs larger — making this the biggest miss, relative ... (full story)

Hiring was a huge letdown in April, with nonfarm payrolls increasing by a much less than expected 266,000 and the unemployment rate rose to 6.1% amid an escalating shortage of available workers. Dow Jones estimates had been for 1 million new jobs and an unemployment rate of 5.8%. Many economists had been expecting an even higher number amid signs that the U.S. economy was roaring back to life. There was more bad news: March’s originally estimated total of 916,000 was revised down to 770,000, though February saw an upward revision to 536,000 from 468,000. The battered leisure and hospitality industry saw the biggest ... (full story)