The US economy added 172,000 jobs in May, significantly surpassing economist forecasts and signaling continued strength in the labor market, according to the jobs report released Friday by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Payroll growth beat the median expectation of 80,000 to 85,000 positions, demonstrating resilience despite persistent inflation concerns. The unemployment rate held steady at 4.3%, unchanged from April.
The stronger-than-expected result follows a pattern of solid hiring momentum earlier in 2026. In January, private payrolls grew by 172,000 jobs, well above consensus forecasts, and March saw the economy add 178,000 positions—nearly triple the initial forecast of around 60,000.
Bitcoin price today falls below $63,000 as market sentiment weakens
SOXL stock surges over 320% year-to-date on AI chip rally
May’s gain reflects broad-based hiring across sectors, though the pace has moderated from the exceptional performance in the first quarter. Year-to-date, the economy has added an average of 76,000 new jobs per month, a sharp acceleration from the 10,000 monthly average in 2025.
Sources
- CNBC — Reported US payrolls rose 172,000 in May, much more than expected, with unemployment at 4.3%
- CBS News — Confirmed employers added 172,000 jobs in May as labor market continued to exceed expectations
- Fox Business — Reported US economy added 172,000 jobs in May, beating expectations
- NBC News — Reported US added 172,000 jobs in May
- The New York Times — Reported US employers added 172,000 jobs in May
