The U.S. economy posted another month of strong employment gains in May, confirming that the labor market was gaining traction after stumbling last year.
The unemployment rate remained at a low 4.3 percent.
Employers added 172,000 jobs in May–roughly double what forecasters had expected– after rising by an upwardly revised 179,000 in April, the Labor Department's Bureau of Labor Statistics said in its closely watched employment report on Friday.
The job gains last month were broad-based. Local governments added 55,000 workers, restaurants and bars 48,000, and healthcare companies 35,000.
In another sign of job market strength, Labor Department revisions added a combined 93,000 jobs in March and April. Job growth averaged 188,000 a month from March through May, marking the best three months of hiring since early 2024.