US Adds 139,000 Jobs May Unemployment Steady 4.2%

The U.S. economy added 139,000 jobs in May 2025, exceeding expectations and keeping the unemployment rate steady at 4.2%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Job growth was mainly concentrated in health care, leisure and hospitality, and social assistance, while sectors like manufacturing, retail trade, and federal government employment declined. Average hourly wages rose by 0.4% in May, with a 3.9% increase over the past year, indicating ongoing economic resilience but also sustained inflationary pressures. Experts note that this strong labor market data dampens hopes for Federal Reserve interest rate cuts in the near term, as the Fed requires signs of labor market weakness to consider easing. Despite solid job gains, downward revisions to previous months’ data and concerns about trade policy and consumer spending suggest risks for slower job growth ahead. The Trump administration and White House officials have praised the job report as evidence of successful economic policies driving a robust labor market.