U.S. job growth tops forecasts in April; unemployment rate holds at 4.3%

U.S. employers added 115,000 jobs in April 2026, beating economists’ expectations, while the unemployment rate held steady at 4.3%, according to data released Friday by the Labor Department’s Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The April gain followed an upwardly revised increase of 185,000 jobs in March. Economists polled by sources had forecast payrolls rising by 62,000 jobs in April.

The report reinforced financial market expectations that the Federal Reserve will keep interest rates unchanged for some time. The central bank lesources its benchmark overnight rate in the 3.50%–3.75% range in late April, citing inflation concerns.

Why monthly payrolls have been volatile

Economists said payroll readings have been choppy in recent months, in part due to adjustments to the government’s birth-and-death model, which estimates job gains and losses from businesses opening and closing.

They also pointed to factors including weather disruptions, strikes, government job cuts, and changes in immigration policy as contributors to month-to-month swings.

Focus on the three-month average

Some economists . They estimated the economy now needs to add between zero and 50,000 jobs per month to keep pace with growth in the working-age population, reflecting lower immigration and an aging workforce.

With that so-called breakeven level lower than in prior years, they did not expect a sharp rise in the unemployment rate even if hiring slows further.