The number of jobs added in April doubled analysts’ predictions, while the unemployment rate held steady, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported Friday.
Total nonfarm payroll employment added 115,000 jobs in April, defying economists’ expectation of 62,000 growth, while the private sector added 123,000 jobs, well above the 75,000 increase analysts had predicted, the BLS report shows. Meanwhile, March’s job increase was revised up by 7,000 to +185,000.
At 4.3%, the seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate was unchanged from March and matched three of the first four months of 2026.
By sector, notable changes in payroll employment from March include:
- Health Care: +37,000 jobs, in line with the average monthly gain of 32,000 over the prior 12 months.
- Nursing and Residential Care facilities: +15,000.
- Home Health Care services +11,000.
- Transportation and Warehousing: +30,000, reflecting a gain in couriers and messengers (+38,000).
- Retail trade: +22,000 jobs in April.
- Social assistance: +17,000, adding 24,000 jobs in individual and family services.
- Federal government: -9,000.
- Information: -13,000.
Since reaching a peak in October 2024, federal government employment is down by 348,000, or 11.5%. Federal employees on furlough during the partial government shutdown were counted as employed in the establishment survey because they worked or received (or will receive) pay for the pay period that included the 12th of the month.
Employment showed little change over the month in other major industries, including mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction; construction; manufacturing; wholesale trade; financial activities; professional and business services; leisure and hospitality; and other services, BLS reports.
“Small businesses are leading the charge here,” particularly blue collar jobs such as plumbers and electricians, Job Creators Network CEO Alfredo Ortiz said in a Fox Business Channel interview Friday, commenting on the BLS employment report. “Small businesses are really the generators of job creation.”
Economist Stephen Moore attributed much of the job growth to the benefits that businesses are enjoying due to Republicans’ tax cuts.
.@JobCreatorsUSA CEO Alfredo Ortiz on the strong April job report: "Under this administration and under the leadership of @SBA_Kelly, small businesses are leading the charge here." pic.twitter.com/5DVhuZhnTi
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) May 8, 2026
