05/12/2026
U.S. employers added 115,000 jobs in April, nearly double the 65,000 forecasters expected.
📦 Transportation & warehousing: +30,000 jobs
🏥 Healthcare: +37,000 jobs
🏗️ Construction: +9,000 jobs
🏭 Manufacturing: -2,000 jobs (down 66,000 over the past year)
Job growth is picking up from a weak 2025, when employers averaged just 9,700 new jobs per month. So far in 2026, that average is 76,000.
Growth is encouraging, but significant challenges remain:
✅ Inflation reached 3.3% in March, a two-year high
✅ Gas prices have surpassed $4.50/gallon following Strait of Hormuz disruptions
✅ The Fed is expected to hold rates steady, with cuts unlikely near-term
✅ Manufacturing continues to shed jobs despite tariff protections
Read more with International Air Tool:
Manufacturers cut 2,000 jobs in April and have shed 66,000 jobs over the past year despite President Trump's policies aimed at creating factory jobs.