U.S. job growth slows in May as tariff uncertainty continues, unemployment rate steady at 4.2%

U.S. job growth slows in May as tariff uncertainty continues, unemployment rate steady at 4.2%

The U.S. economy needs to create roughly 100,000 jobs a month to keep up with growth in the working age population.

U.S. job growth slowed in May amid headwinds from tariff uncertainty, while the unemployment rate held steady at 4.2 per cent, potentially giving the Federal Reserve cover to delay resuming interest rate cuts for a while.

Non-farm payrolls increased by 139,000 jobs last month after rising by a downwardly revised 147,000 in April, the Labour Department’s Bureau of Labour Statistics said in its closely watched employment report on Friday.

Economists polled by Reuters had forecast 130,000 jobs added after a previously reported 177,000 rise in April. Estimates ranged from 75,000 t