The panel on “Morning with Maria” plans to delve into market trends, the implications of Spirit Airlines’ bankruptcy, and the strength of the U.S. economy.
Details regarding the employment statistics for April 2026 are still being finalized and will be updated soon.
In April, the U.S. economy saw a moderate job growth, despite some uncertainty surrounding the effects of ongoing conflicts in the Middle East on the job market.
Key Findings from the April 2026 Employment Statistics
The Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that employers added 115,000 jobs in April, surpassing the anticipated increase of 62,000 jobs, according to forecasts by LSEG.
The unemployment rate held steady at 4.3%, aligning with expectations from LSEG economists.
February’s and March’s employment figures were adjusted down, with February showing a reduction of 23,000 jobs, changing from a loss of 133,000 to 156,000. Conversely, March’s report received a positive revision, increasing from 178,000 to 185,000 jobs added.
In total, the job figures for February and March were revised downward by 16,000 compared to previous reports.
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Job Gains and Losses by Sector for April 2026
Private payrolls expanded by 123,000 jobs in April, outperforming the LSEG forecast which estimated an addition of 75,000 jobs. The initial estimate for March was also revised upward, reflecting a rise from 186,000 to 190,000 jobs added.
Government jobs slipped by 8,000 in April, with the federal workforce decreasing by 9,000 while state employment rose by 1,000. Local government jobs did not experience significant changes.
Manufacturing faced a decline of 2,000 jobs in April, contrary to LSEG projections that suggested a gain of 5,000 jobs.
Healthcare saw a growth of over 37,300 jobs in April, matching the previous year’s monthly average of 32,000. The majority of these job increases were in nursing and residential care facilities (up 15,000) and home health services (up 11,000).
The construction sector added 9,000 jobs in April, showing little change overall compared to the past year. Notably, nonresidential specialty trade contractors increased by 12,600, but this was countered by a drop of 8,900 in residential specialty trade contractors.
Transportation and warehousing experienced a boost of 30,000 jobs in April, largely due to job growth among couriers and messengers (up 38,000), although the sector remains down about 105,000 jobs since its peak in February 2025.
Retail added 22,000 jobs in April, primarily from gains in warehouse clubs, supercenters, and other general merchandise retailers (up 18,000), along with building and garden supply stores (up 13,000). These increases were partially offset by losses in department stores (down 7,000) and electronics stores (down 2,000), leading to minimal change over the last year.
Social assistance jobs rose by 17,000, fueled by an increase in personal and family services (up 24,000).
Implications of the April 2026 Employment Report for Workers
The long-term unemployed population, those out of work for 27 weeks or more, remained nearly unchanged at 1.8 million in April, making up 25.3% of the total unemployed.
Those working part-time for economic reasons saw an increase of 445,000, bringing the total to 4.9 million in April. These individuals sought full-time positions but were constrained to part-time work due to reduced hours or a lack of full-time opportunities.
The labor force participation rate was recorded at 61.8% and the employment-to-population ratio at 59.1%, showing little fluctuation during the month. However, both metrics have declined from the past year—down from 62.6% and 60% respectively in April of last year.
