US job growth unexpectedly jumps in April as economy adds 253,000 new positions

U.S. hiring grew in April by more than expected as the labor market remained surprisingly resilient in the face of rising interest rates and higher inflation.

Employers added 253,000 jobs in April, the Labor Department said in its monthly payroll report released Friday, easily beating the 180,000 jobs forecast by Refinitiv economists. The unemployment rate, meanwhile, ticked lower to 3.4%.