With Wall Street expecting a strong - not great - number, and a modest decline from April's 115K, instead the the BLS reported a shocker: in May the US added 172K jobs.

Bizarro data reporting continues: April saw the biggest monthly increase in professional and business services by a huge margin, even as quits collapsed to a 6 year low.

The US labor market appears to have found its footing: The economy added 172,000 jobs in May, shattering expectations, new data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics showed Friday.

The US labor market appears to have found its footing: The economy added 172,000 jobs in May, shattering expectations, new data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics showed Friday.

Nonfarm payrolls were expected to increase by 80,000 in May while the unemployment rate held at 4.3%.

The labor market continues to show strength despite rising inflation and concerns about slowing economic growth.

Is the jobs market back? U.S. employers added 172,000 jobs in May, beating expectations.

Leisure and hospitality led hiring, while financial activities shed jobs for the 12th consecutive month

The labor market is strengthening after months of lackluster jobs growth,

With Wall Street expecting a strong - not great - number, and a modest decline from April's 115K, instead the the BLS reported a shocker: in May the US added 172K jobs.

The labor market has been growing at a stable but slower pace in 2026, but job gains in May were far stronger than expected.

US unemployment holds steady at 4.3% with job growth exceeding expectations. Rate cut in 2026 at 6.5% YES.

US nonfarm payrolls rose 172,000 in May, more than double the 85,000 forecast, as unemployment held at 4.3%, giving the Fed room to stay patient on rates.

Unemployment remained steady, with the labour market in the world’s largest economy sustaining recent gains.

The labor market delivered 172,000 jobs in May, past the expectation for 88,000.

Traders bet the Fed will have to raise rates by December

US job growth surged past expectations in May with the unemployment rate remaining steady, as the labor market in the world's largest economy showed signs of firming after months…

Jobs report today: Job gains last month were broad-based. Local governments added 55,000 workers, restaurants and bars 48,000, healthcare companies 35,000.

The United States added 172,000 nonfarm payrolls in May, more than doubling expectations, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Friday.

There's no doubt that 172,000 payrolls added in May blew past expectations. But you have to look closely at where they were added.

The May 2026 BLS jobs report added 172,000 positions, roughly double the consensus forecast. Here's what the strong labor data means for crypto investors.