US Adds 177,000 Jobs in April, Unemployment Steady at 4.2%

U.S. job growth remained robust in April with 177,000 jobs added, surpassing economists’ expectations despite ongoing uncertainty from President Donald Trump’s sweeping import tariffs and federal government layoffs. The unemployment rate held steady at 4.2%, signaling ongoing labor market stability. While some industries, such as transportation and warehousing, saw temporary hiring boosts ahead of tariff implementation, most analysts believe the broader impact of tariffs on employment may become more apparent in the coming months. Payroll gains for February and March were revised downward, offsetting some of April’s growth, but the April gains were still stronger than forecast. Despite concerns over trade policy and government layoffs, hiring has not yet shown significant negative effects, though elevated uncertainty has led some firms to pause new hiring. The April report capped a week of economic data pointing to the early influence of Trump’s trade agenda on the economy.