U.S. employers added 175,000 jobs in April, according to the latest jobs report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). While April’s job gains are well below analysts’ expectations of about 235,000 positions, it also marks 40 straight months of job growth for the U.S. economy.
The BLS also shared revised job numbers for February and March, showing that those two months combined saw 22,000 fewer positions added than were previously reported.
Employers in private education and health services expanded payrolls by 95,000 jobs last month, according to the BLS. The following industries also saw notable payroll expansion last month:
- Transportation and warehousing: 21,800 jobs added
- Retail trade: 20,100 jobs added
- Wholesale trade: 10,100 jobs added
- Construction: 9,000 jobs added
- Government: 8,000 jobs added
- Manufacturing: 8,000 jobs added
- Financial activities: 6,000 jobs added
- Leisure and hospitality: 5,000 jobs added
The national unemployment rate in April was 3.9%, up slightly from 3.8% in March. April was the 27th consecutive month with a jobless rate below 4%, a streak not seen since the 1960s.
The unemployment rate for college-degreed workers who are 25 or older also increased last month. The rate was 2.2%, up from 2.1% in March. These professionals are the most highly sought-after hires by employers.
Separate data from the BLS highlights how many in-demand roles have even lower unemployment rates. Examples include network and systems administrators (0.6%), lawyers (1.0%), accountants and auditors (1.9%), office and administrative support supervisors (1.8%), and copywriters (2.1%).*
*Percentages reflect unemployment rates for select positions that were near or below the national unemployment rate of 3.8% at the end of March 2024. Current Population Statistics report, BLS, April 5, 2024.
The latest Job Openings and Labor Turnover Summary from the BLS shows that there were 8.5 million job openings in the United States at the end of March. This is a slight decrease from the 8.8 million job openings the BLS reported for February.
These findings suggest that the demand for highly skilled professionals remains high, and employers still face hiring challenges, such as finding candidates with the requisite skills. That means workers who possess in-demand skill sets and experience have leverage in the current hiring environment.
There is also good news for less-seasoned professionals launching job searches, including new grads entering the labor market. Workplace research from Robert Half suggests that 65% of employers are looking to hire entry-level professionals in the first half of 2024 to help overcome skill gaps, support growth, and add new perspectives to their prevailing corporate culture.
Read the latest issue of Robert Half’s Demand for Skilled Talent report to get details on in-demand positions for several industries including finance and accounting, technology, legal, and administrative and customer support. Learn about U.S. employers’ hiring plans and challenges, common hiring mistakes and how to avoid them, and the importance of addressing skill gaps sooner than later.
View the Demand for Skilled Talent report now on the Robert Half website.
The 2024 Salary Guide From Robert Half features exclusive data and input from employers and workers, and from our recruiters who staff tens of thousands of jobs each year.
Our guide is designed to be a go-to resource on the latest hiring and compensation trends for both employers and job seekers. And you can view it right now, for free, on the Robert Half website.
Read the 2024 Salary Guide
See this video featuring Robert Half Operational President Dawn Fay for further analysis of the April 2024 jobs report, along with an update on how job seekers are using artificial intelligence in their job search process and a three-step solution designed to help managers find skilled talent.
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