US Jobs Post Smallest Gain in Six Months as Unemployment Rises
- Payrolls rose 175,000 on weakness in construction, leisure
- Wages grew 3.9% from April 2023, slowest in nearly three years
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US employers scaled back hiring in April and the unemployment rate unexpectedly rose, suggesting some cooling is underway in the labor market after a strong start to the year.
Nonfarm payrolls advanced 175,000 last month, the smallest gain in six months, a Bureau of Labor Statistics report showed Friday. A later release showed that business activity in the service sector — the largest part of the economy — unexpectedly weakened to the lowest level in four years, while prices climbed.