WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the Joint Economic Committee released its Monthly Employment Update. In April, 115,000 jobs were added (123K private sector, -8K government) after a stronger showing in March. The unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.3 percent while the labor force participation rate dropped again by 0.1 percentage points from 62 percent to 61.8 percent. The broadest measure of unemployment (U-6, which adds underemployment to unemployment) increased by 0.2 percentage points to 8.2 percent.

Revised numbers from March show 8,000 more jobs from a revised increase of 185,000 from 178,000 initially reported. February’s report revised fewer by 64,000 to end with a loss of 156,000 jobs.

From March to April, the best performing sectors were trade, transportation, and utilities (+60K) and private education and health services (+46K) while the worst performing sectors were information (-13K) and financial activities (-11K).

From April 2025 to April 2026, the best performing sectors were private education and health services (+618K) and leisure and hospitality (+142K). The worst performing sectors were federal government (-311K) and information (-92K).

Year over year, for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls, average nominal weekly earnings increased by 3.57 percent while average nominal hourly earnings increased by 3.57 percent. For production and nonsupervisory employees on private nonfarm payrolls, average nominal weekly earnings increased by 3.97 percent and average nominal hourly earnings increased by 3.67 percent.

Job openings, a measure of labor demand, declined. The total number of nonfarm job openings decreased by 56K to 6.87 million, and the rate decreased by 0.1 percentage points to 4.1 percent. The best performing sectors were private education and health services (+106K) and financial activities (+101K). The worst performing sectors were professional and business services (-318K) and other services (-41K).

For the full Employment update and to see more details on the employment situation in each state, visit: https://www.jec.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/republicans/employment-update

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