RismadarVoice Reporters
May 8, 2026
The U.S. economy added 115,000 jobs in April, surpassing economists’ expectations, signalling continued resilience in the labour market despite rising energy costs tied to the ongoing conflict involving Iran, according to federal data released Friday.
According to reports, the unemployment rate held steady at 4.3%, matching forecasts from economists surveyed by Dow Jones, who had anticipated a significantly weaker gain of about 55,000 jobs.
The latest report from the Bureau of Labour Statistics (BLS) comes amid heightened economic pressure, with global oil markets disrupted by the war and domestic fuel prices remaining sharply elevated. Oil prices are up more than 50% since the start of the year, while average U.S. gasoline prices have climbed above $4.55 per gallon, also up roughly 50% since late February.
Despite energy-driven inflationary pressures, wage growth remained stable. Average hourly earnings increased at a 3.6% annual pace, suggesting continued but contained upward pressure on pay.
The inflation backdrop has already shown signs of strain. The Consumer Price Index rose to 3.3% in March, reflecting higher costs linked to energy disruptions.
Economists said the latest labour data points to underlying strength in employment even as households face rising living costs.
“The April jobs report is a clear upside surprise, showing the labour market remains resilient,” said Eric Merlis, co-head of global markets at Citizens Financial. He added that the data suggests the geopolitical tensions in the Middle East have not yet significantly weakened hiring trends.
Merlis also noted that “stronger job growth alongside stable unemployment and contained wage pressure is exactly what the Fed wants to see,” referring to the Federal Reserve’s ongoing efforts to balance growth and inflation.
Healthcare once again led job creation, adding 37,000 positions in April, in line with its average monthly gains over the past year.
Transportation and warehousing also posted strong growth, expanding by 30,000 jobs, while retail employment rose by 22,000 positions.
Other major industries, including manufacturing, construction, financial services, and hospitality, showed little net change over the month, according to the BLS.
While headline employment growth was stronger than expected, underlying indicators pointed to uneven conditions in the labour market.
The number of people working part-time for economic reasons rose by 445,000 to 4.9 million in April. These workers reported wanting full-time employment but were unable to secure it due to reduced hours or limited availability of full-time positions.
In addition, the information technology sector shed 13,000 jobs, reflecting ongoing softness in parts of the tech industry.
The BLS noted that employment was largely unchanged across several other sectors, including mining and energy extraction, construction, manufacturing, wholesale trade, financial activities, professional services, leisure and hospitality, and other services.
The report arrives at a time of heightened uncertainty for the global economy, with energy markets continuing to react to geopolitical instability. Analysts caution that while the U.S. labour market remains robust for now, sustained high energy prices could eventually weigh on hiring and consumer demand.
For the moment, however, the April data suggests employers continue to add jobs at a steady pace, even as economic headwinds intensify.
