Overview

• Nonfarm payrolls rose by 139,000 in May, underperforming the 149,000 monthly average recorded over the past year.
• The labor force participation rate fell to 62.4% as 625,000 people left the pool of workers and job seekers.
• Federal government employment dropped by 22,000 jobs in May, extending a decline of 59,000 positions since January.
• Health care, leisure and hospitality, and social assistance made up roughly 90% of May’s job gains, highlighting uneven sectoral growth.
• Average hourly earnings increased by 0.4% to $36.24 even as analysts warn that tariffs and downward revisions may further damp hiring.