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The U.S. labor market defied economists’ forecasts once again, with the Bureau of Labor Statistics reporting 139,000 nonfarm jobs added in May.
Experts predicted just 125,000 jobs, certain that tariffs would lead to an economic slowdown. Instead, they were left scrambling to explain the economy’s resilience.
Unemployment remained steady at 4.2 percent, while another measure, which includes underemployed individuals and discouraged workers, was also unchanged at 7.8 percent.
Wage growth also exceeded expectations, with hourly earnings up 0.4 percent in May and 3.9 percent during the same period in 2024. Experts forecasted a 0.3 percent and 3.7 percent growth, respectively.
Health care accounted for nearly half the job growth, adding 62,000 jobs during the month, 18,000 more than May 2024. Leisure and hospitality brought in 48,000 jobs, while social assistance added 16,000.
Government jobs decreased by 22,000 as a result of President Trump’s efforts to downsize the federal workforce.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt highlighted the positive report in a post on X. “President Trump’s America First Economic Agenda has created a BOOMING economy — jobs are up, unemployment is down, wages are increasing, and inflation is dead. More than 139,000 good jobs were added to the private sector in May, all accounted for by American-born workers. Americans should continue to Trust in President Trump, who continues to beat expectations,” Leavitt wrote.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent also celebrated the win. “Today’s unemployment report underscores the continued strength of the U.S. labor market thanks to POTUS’ pro-growth economic agenda,” he wrote on X.
“We have a resilient economy driven by policies that prioritize American workers – and to supercharge investment and job creation in the U.S., we must get the One, Big Beautiful Bill across the finish line,” Bessent added.
The U.S. Department of Labor attributed the results to President Trump’s agenda. “POTUS’ America First policies continue to fuel our economic revival and deliver for hardworking families,” the department wrote on X.
Fox Business held nothing back Friday morning as the host remarked, “We’re looking at a market that’s really taking off here.”
White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller was especially impressed with the decrease in foreign-born employment and the subsequent increase in native-born employment. He shared the results in a post with the caption, “This is extraordinary. Pass the BBB and watch these numbers continue to skyrocket.”
