The U.S. economy added 147,000 jobs in June, surpassing forecasts and signaling continued resilience in the labor market, according to new figures released Thursday by the Labor Department. The national unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.1 percent, holding steady despite recent economic pressures.
Economists had projected a more modest gain of around 100,000 jobs for the month, with many expecting the jobless rate to rise slightly to 4.3 percent. Instead, hiring continued at a stronger-than-anticipated pace, suggesting that employers are still confident enough to expand payrolls despite broader uncertainties.
The labor market’s stability comes amid ongoing shifts in U.S. trade policy. President Trump’s expanded use of tariffs has led to higher import tax rates and greater uncertainty surrounding international commerce. While those policies have caused concern among some economists and business leaders, they haven’t yet disrupted the overall job market momentum.
In recent weeks, the White House has attempted to ease tensions by postponing some of the tariffs introduced in April and softening their scope. Still, a deadline is approaching July 9 for final decisions on deals with several key trading partners affected by the policy changes.
President Trump has made clear that if agreements are not reached, he is prepared to move forward with the full range of proposed tariffs. Such a move could reignite concerns about rising costs for American consumers and businesses, as well as potential ripple effects on hiring and investment in the second half of the year.
