The Bureau of Labor Statistics will release its May 2026 Employment Situation report on June 5 at 8:30 a.m. ET. And if April’s data is any indication, the US labor market is proving more durable than most forecasters expected.
Last month’s report showed nonfarm payrolls rising by 115,000 jobs, nearly doubling the consensus forecast of 62,000 to 65,000. The unemployment rate held flat at 4.3%.
What April told us about the labor market
Health care, transportation and warehousing, and retail trade led the charge in April job gains. Manufacturing remained uneven, with some gains in factory construction roles.
The year-to-date average monthly job gains through April sit at roughly 76,000, according to White House commentary.
