Unemployment Rate
4.3%
Nonfarm payroll employment increased by 178,000, and the unemployment rate changed little from 4.4% in March. Healthcare, construction, and transportation, and warehousing increased. Losses occurred in the federal government and financial activities.
The labor force participation rate was 61.9%. Average hourly earnings rose 9 cents (0.2%) to $37.38. The average workweek edged down to 34.2 hours.
According to the American Staffing Association, temporary help employment was 1.56% of total nonfarm employment in March.
Major Industry Employment
Notable Gains and Losses
- Healthcare and Social Assistance: +89,900
- Leisure and Hospitality: +44,000
- Construction: +26,000
- Transportation and Warehousing: +21,000
- Manufacturing: +15,000
- Government: -8,000
- Financial Activities: -15,000
Read the full report at BLS.gov.
Monthly revisions may occur due to additional reports received since the latest published estimates and from the recalculation of seasonal factors. For more information, visit BLS.gov.
Workforce and Economic News
AI in the Workplace: What Separates Adopters and Holdouts
Gallup – April 13, 2026
AI adoption at work is uneven, with Gallup finding that access to tools alone does not drive use; leadership and job design matter more. Employees are far more likely to use AI when managers actively support it, workflows are designed to incorporate it, and organizations communicate clear expectations and policies.
Manager Engagement Is Slipping — and Affecting AI Use
HR Dive – April 9, 2026
Manager engagement is declining globally, and research shows the drop is taking a direct toll on employee engagement and organizations’ ability to realize returns from AI investments. As managers become less engaged, employees are far less likely to adopt AI tools or see productivity gains, reinforcing that leadership, not technology alone, drives transformation.
Is Believing You’re Burned Out Burning You Out?
Psychology Today – April 12, 2026
Believing and labeling yourself or your team as “burned out” can actually reinforce disengagement and reduce a sense of control. Burnout is a specific, work-related condition distinct from temporary exhaustion, and treating it as an identity can make people feel helpless instead of proactive.
America Employed
Insights from Express Employment International
Networking Isn’t Personal Anymore — With Four in Five Professionals Calling It Transactional
ExpressPros.com – March 25, 2026
A growing majority of Americans say networking no longer feels like relationship building but a thinly veiled transaction — and new survey data shows just how pervasive that discomfort has become. According to a recent Express Employment Professionals–Harris Poll survey, 79% of U.S. hiring managers and 75% of job seekers say networking today feels more like a business transaction than a genuine personal connection.
At the same time, 84% of job seekers say networking is primarily about identifying job opportunities — not building relationships — revealing a widening gap between what professionals want networking to be and what it has turned into.
84% of US Job Seekers Say Networking Matters, but 59% Don’t Know Where to Begin
ExpressPros.com – March 11, 2026
New data from an Express Employment Professionals-Harris Poll survey shows U.S. workers overwhelmingly believe networking is essential, yet many feel unprepared, unsure of where to do it and divided on whether digital platforms help — or hinder — the process.
Eighty-four percent of job seekers say networking is important to getting a foot in the door, and hiring managers agree even more strongly, with 92% saying candidates should be networking to improve their chances. The findings highlight a national workforce that sees connections as currency yet continues to struggle to navigate the evolving mix of digital and in-person opportunities.
