US Economy Added 115,000 Jobs in April as Unemployment Held at 4.3%

The U.S. economy added 115,000 jobs in April while the unemployment rate held steady at 4.3%, according to new Labor Department data released Friday. Hiring exceeded economist expectations for a second straight month, with gains led by healthcare, transportation and retail, while wage growth remained moderate as Federal Reserve officials monitor inflation pressures tied to the Iran war and rising energy costs.

• Nonfarm payrolls increased by 115,000 in April, above forecasts for roughly 62,000 jobs.
• The unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.3%.
• Healthcare added 37,000 jobs, while transportation and warehousing added 30,000 positions.
• Average hourly earnings rose 0.2% month-over-month and 3.6% from a year earlier.
• The broader U-6 unemployment measure rose to 8.2%, the highest level this year.
• Manufacturing, information technology and financial activities all posted job losses in April.

Relevant Companies

• United Airlines ($UAL) – Higher fuel costs tied to the Iran war may pressure airline margins and travel demand.
• Amazon ($AMZN) – Transportation and warehousing hiring gains reflect continued logistics and delivery demand.
• Meta Platforms ($META) – Big Tech firms continue reducing headcount amid rising AI-related spending.

Editor’s Note: This is a developing story. This article may be updated as more details become available.