U.S. Unemployment Hits Lowest Level Since 1969

What’s going on:    

In April 2023, the United States experienced better-than-expected job growth, with 253,000 nonfarm payrolls added to the economy, according to CNBC. This number exceeded the predictions made by Wall Street, which had estimated that only 180,000 jobs would be created. The unemployment rate, which measures the percentage of people who are actively looking for work but cannot find it, was at 3.4% — tied for the lowest level since 1969.  

Why it matters:       

This news of positive job growth came as a slight surprise, especially when considering the recent issues in the banking sector and other negative factors impacting the economy, like inflation rates.   

Job growth was reported across a number of industries. The government data reveals that professional and business services added 43,000 jobs, health care added 40,000 jobs, leisure and hospitality added 31,000 jobs, the government added 23,000, and social assistance added 25,000 jobs. Even the finance industry showed signs of resilience, per the report, with an increase of 23,000 jobs.   

How it’ll impact the future:         

The Federal Reserve uses these economic reports as a key measure of understanding inflation in the U.S. While higher wages can boost consumer spending, driving economic growth, it may also lead to new pressures on inflation rates that may prompt the Fed to adjust inflation policy and interest rates — impacting the job market.   

CNBC reported that the average hourly earnings rose by 0.5% for the month – which was the largest monthly gain in a year. The annual wages also increased by 4.4%, higher than the expected increase of 4.2%. These wage increases are a key inflation indicator and could influence the Federal Reserve’s decision on whether to raise interest rates yet again in the future.  

Wall Street gurus hope that this newfound strength will help stabilize the economy and reduce market volatility in the coming months.