U.S. Job Market Smashed Expectations In May—But Fewer Americans Were Working

BreakingBusinessU.S. Job Market Smashed Expectations In May—But Fewer Americans Were WorkingByTy Roush,Forbes Staff. Ty Roush is a breaking news reporter based in New York City.Follow AuthorJun 05, 2026, 08:43am EDTToplineThe U.S. economy added far more jobs than expected in May, even as the share of Americans working or looking for work remained unchanged, according to federal data published Friday, while recent reports indicated a stable job market despite a steady decline in total employment.Recent data pointed to a stable job market, even as total employment declined. Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reservedKey FactsThe U.S. added 172,000 nonfarm jobs in May and the unemployment rate remained 4.3%, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported, far surpassing consensus analyst estimates of 105,000 new jobs, according to FactSet.The labor participation rate, or the percentage of Americans working or looking for work, settled at 61.8%, matching projections and the lowest rate since December 2021. This is a developing story.Got a tip? Share confidential information with Forbes.Editorial StandardsReprints & PermissionsLOADING VIDEO PLAYER...FORBES’ FEATURED Video