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U.S. employers added roughly 177,000 jobs in April, more than expectations had projected, and the unemployment rate remained unchanged from last month at 4.2%, according to data released Friday by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The latest numbers reflect the deep workforce cuts from the Department of Government Efficiency, with federal government employment declining by 9,000 in April, bringing the total number of cuts since January to 26,000. (Federal workers on paid leave or who are getting severance pay are still included among the employed.)
The latest report suggests that President Donald Trump’s tariffs have not yet made a significant dent in the job market, with some experts suggesting the effects won't be reflected in official data for weeks or months. Still, there are other indications of their impact on the economy.
Data from the Commerce Department this week showed that the economy shrank by 0.3% in the first three months of the year, in large part due to an uptick in imports as Americans prepare for Trump’s tariffs to hit. Economists have also warned of a potential recession. Meanwhile, Trump has continued to try to brace the public for economic pain, claiming that he warned voters of a “transition period” on the campaign trail.
Trump celebrated the latest numbers in a post on Truth Social on Friday morning, writing that “Billions of Dollars” are coming in from tariffs, repeating a claim he has made before that is difficult to verify. “Just like I said, and we’re only in a TRANSITION STAGE, just getting started!!!” he added.