U.S. Job Growth and Economic Outlook
In April, U.S. employers added 177,000 jobs, surpassing expectations of 135,000, while the unemployment rate remained steady at 4.2%. Despite concerns over the Trump administration’s trade policies and rising layoffs, particularly in federal employment due to government cuts, significant job gains were noted in healthcare and transportation sectors. However, increased unemployment benefits filings and a GDP contraction of 0.3% in Q1 signal potential economic challenges ahead, leading analysts to suggest the Federal Reserve may maintain interest rates in their upcoming meeting.