The U.S. economy added 428,000 jobs in April, topping the market forecast of 391,000, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The unemployment rate was unchanged at 3.6 percent.
Average hourly earnings rose at an annualized rate of 5.5 percent. On a month-over-month basis, average hourly earnings edged up 0.3 percent, or 10 cents, to $31.85. Average weekly hours held steady at 34.6. The labor force participation rate dipped to 62.2 percent.
Employment in leisure and hospitality advanced by 78,000, the manufacturing sector created 55,000 new positions, and transportation and warehousing swelled by 52,000. Professional and business services maintained their upward trend by adding 41,000 jobs.
Health care employment jumped by 29,000. Government payrolls increased by 22,000.
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