April Jobs Report: U.S. Adds 177,000 Jobs
In April 2025, the U.S. labor market added 177,000 non-farm payroll jobs, maintaining a steady pace of growth.
This figure aligns closely with the 12-month average of 152,000 jobs per month, indicating continued resilience in employment despite broader economic uncertainties.
The unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.2%, with the number of unemployed individuals holding steady at 7.2 million.
Is the U.S. Job Market Growing?
April’s employment data suggest that the labor market continues to expand at a moderate and consistent rate.
However, federal government employment declined by 9,000 jobs, reflecting ongoing reductions in public sector staffing.
The labor force participation rate edged up slightly to 62.6%, and the employment-population ratio increased to 60.0%, both showing minimal change over the year.
These indicators point to a stable labor market with steady workforce engagement.
U.S. Unemployment Rates by Group – April 2025
- Adult women: 3.7% (unchanged)
- Adult men: 4.0% (up from 3.8%)
- Teenagers: 12.9% (down from 13.7%)
- Whites: 3.8% (up from 3.7%)
- Blacks: 6.3% (up from 6.2%)
- Asians: 3.0% (down from 3.5%)
- Hispanics: 5.2% (up from 5.1%)
Key Employment Statistics for April 2025
- Long-term unemployed (27 weeks or more): Increased by 179,000 to 1.7 million, accounting for 23.5% of the total unemployed.
- Average hourly earnings: Rose by 6 cents to $36.06, reflecting a 3.8% year-over-year increase.
- Average workweek: Remained unchanged at 34.3 hours; for production and nonsupervisory employees, it held steady at 33.8 hours.
Sectors with Notable Job Trends in April
Healthcare
The healthcare sector added 51,000 jobs in April, consistent with its 12-month average.
Hospitals contributed 22,000 jobs, while ambulatory health care services added 21,000 positions, indicating sustained demand for medical services.
Transportation and Warehousing
Employment in transportation and warehousing increased by 29,000 jobs, surpassing the sector’s 12-month average of 12,000.
Notable gains occurred in warehousing and storage (+10,000), couriers and messengers (+8,000), and air transportation (+3,000), reflecting ongoing growth in logistics and delivery services.
Financial Activities
The financial activities sector continued its upward trend, adding 14,000 jobs in April.
Since its employment trough in April 2024, the industry has added 103,000 jobs, indicating a steady recovery and growth in financial services.
Social Assistance
Social assistance employment rose by 8,000 jobs, below the 12-month average gain of 20,000.
This suggests a slowdown in hiring within the sector, which includes services such as individual and family support.
Government
Federal government employment declined by 9,000 jobs in April, bringing the total reduction since January to 26,000.
These decreases reflect ongoing efforts to streamline government operations and reduce public sector staffing.
April Jobs Report Summary
The April 2025 jobs report indicates a stable and growing labor market, with 177,000 jobs added and the unemployment rate holding steady at 4.2%.
While key sectors like healthcare and transportation continue to drive employment gains, the decline in federal government jobs highlights areas of contraction.
Overall, the labor market demonstrates resilience amid economic challenges, maintaining steady growth and workforce participation.
