A solid April jobs report surprises experts

The labor market was expected to add only 133,000 jobs in April, but Friday’s jobs report posted a higher 177,000.

Many expected today’s economic uncertainty to be reflected in the BLS numbers; however, some experts are pointing to the lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic – when employers were quick to lay off works and then struggled to attract them back  – as the reason why the labor market has remained strong and steady.

Additional findings

• The unemployment rate held at 4.2%
• March’s jobs numbers were revised to 185,000, down from 228,000
• Healthcare (51,000), warehousing and transportation (29,000), and leisure and hospitality (24,000) led hiring last month
• Average hourly earnings rose 0.2% from last month
• Labor force participation rose to 62.6%, up from up from 62.5%
• Manufacturing lost 1,000 jobs in April
• In March, unemployment rate for recent college graduates rose to 5.8%, the highest since July 2021

Steady as she goes

Not every business is facing the same challenges. Healthcare and the leisure and hospitality industries have led the monthly jobs report for months. However, other industries, like manufacturing, are feeling the pain.

That’s why it’s critical to work with a staffing provider who can navigate every facet of your organization, whether it’s logistics, call centers, or executive leadership. At Adecco, our colleagues understand the unique challenges each industry faces when recruiting and retaining top talent.

That’s in addition to utilizing real time data and market research to understand exactly what’s happening at your site and what’s happening across the country.