Key facts
- Employers added 172,000 jobs in May, exceeding projections.
- The US unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.3% in May.
- The leisure and hospitality sector added 70,000 jobs.
- Approximately 120,000 workers joined the labor force in May.
- All new labor force participants in May were men.
The US job market demonstrated robust growth in May, with employers adding 172,000 jobs, a figure stronger than anticipated. The unemployment rate remained stable at 4.3%. Significant job creation was observed in the leisure and hospitality sector, which accounted for 70,000 new positions. Healthcare and other industries also contributed to the hiring surge. Over the past three months, job growth has been the strongest in over two years. However, an analysis by the National Women's Law Center revealed that while approximately 120,000 workers joined the labor force in May, all of these new participants were men, indicating a gender disparity in the recent job market recovery.