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

The U.S. economy added 177,000 jobs in April, surpassing economists’ expectations despite ongoing concerns over President Trump’s aggressive tariff policies and substantial cuts to the federal workforce. The unemployment rate remained steady at 4.2%, even as the federal government shed 9,000 jobs amid broader cost-cutting measures. Wage growth persisted, with average hourly earnings rising 3.8% over the past year. However, the pace of job gains slowed compared to March, and other indicators—such as a contraction in GDP for the first time in three years and a rise in unemployment claims—have raised fears of an impending recession. Economists warn that the full impact of recent tariffs, which have already started to affect manufacturing activity and consumer sentiment, could take months or years to play out. Despite administration claims that tariffs will boost domestic manufacturing, most experts anticipate continued headwinds for both hiring and economic growth in the near term.