The number of U.S. jobs rose more than expected in April

U.S. job growth was strong and the unemployment rate held steady in April, suggesting that uncertainty over Trump's trade policies has yet to have a significant impact on hiring plans. Nonfarm payrolls rose by 177,000 in April after data from the previous two months were revised down, according to data released Friday by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.2 percent. The report indicates that the labor market continues to cool gradually, indicating that businesses face high levels of uncertainty from tariffs and financial marekt turmoil without significantly altering their hiring plans. Most economists expect the impact of the punitive levies to be felt in the coming months. April's job gains were broad-based, with job gains in healthcare, transportation and warehousing leading the pack. Manufacturing payrolls fell as the sector's output contracted at its biggest pace since 2020. Federal government jobs fell for a third straight month. The job participation rate rose to 62.6 percent in April. The unemployment rate for 25 to 54-year-olds, also known as prime-age workers, rose to a seven-month high. Economists widely expect layoffs to increase in the coming months as economic uncertainty brings expansion plans to a halt.