US Employers Add 115,000 Jobs in April, Beating Forecasts

The U.S. labor market beat expectations again in April as employers added 115,000 jobs nationwide, topping economists' forecasts.

Economists had projected payroll gains of 65,000 for the month, based on a FactSet consensus. The Labor Department's report showed the unemployment rate holding steady at 4.3%, a level it has exceeded since June 2024.

The April figure follows a strong March report, when employers added 178,000 jobs—almost three times what forecasters expected.

"In general, the levels of openings and hires are down from their post-pandemic peaks but remain high relative to the historical record before the pandemic," Carl Weinberg, chief economist at High Frequency Economics, said in a report before the latest data.

Hiring has increased even as layoffs stay low. Data this week from outplacement firm Challenger, Gray and Christmas showed employers cutting about 300,000 jobs so far this year, half the total from the same period last year.

In April, one in four companies blamed artificial intelligence for layoffs, part of a rising pattern as firms aim to accelerate workflows and reduce costs.