BLS: U.S. Added 172K Jobs in May; Jobless Rate at 4.3%


   
   SECAUCUS, NJ (DTN) -- U.S. nonfarm employment rose by 172,000 in May, 
according to Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data on Friday (6/5) that 
reported jobs growth for last month at 93% above expectations.

   The market had expected May jobs growth at just 88,000. The pivot in the 
numbers reported by the BLS came as the Department of Labor revised April's 
jobs gains up to 179,000 from a previously reported 115,000, resetting the 
baseline for May's job expansion.

   April marked the second straight month of belated adjustments to previously 
reported jobs growth. In March, employment growth was belatedly revised to 
214,000 from a prior 185,000.

   With these revisions, employment in March and April combined is 93,000 
higher than previously reported. According to the BLS, the labor force 
participation rate held at 61.8%, and the employment-population ratio changed 
little at 59.2% in May.

   The unemployment rate held at 4.3% in May and has remained in a narrow range 
since July 2025. The number of unemployed people changed little over the month 
at 7.3 million.

   In May, average hourly earnings for all employees on private nonfarm 
payrolls rose by 12cts, or 0.3%, to $37.53. Over the past 12 months, average 
hourly earnings increased by 3.4%, BLS said.

   Job gains were primarily seen in leisure and hospitality (70,000), local 
government (55,000), and health care (35,000). Within leisure and hospitality, 
food services and drinking places added 48,000 jobs, while ambulatory health 
care services led health care gains with 26,000.

   Job losses were mainly in financial activities (22,000). Within financial 
activities, insurance carriers and related activities lost 11,000 jobs over the 
month, and commercial banking declined by 3,000.




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