Employers added 139,000 jobs in May as labor market remains steady

Employers across the U.S. added 139,000 jobs in May, new federal data shows, a sign the labor market remains steady despite economic headwinds from tariffs.

The numbers

Payroll gains in May exceeded economists' consensus forecast of 130,000. Job growth over the last 12 months has averaged 156,800 per month, according to financial data firm FactSet.

The nation's unemployment rate held steady at 4.2% for the third month in a row, according to the Labor Department. That matched forecasts by economists polled by FactSet.

Although the government's latest employment report topped expectations, job growth was slightly weaker in May compared with previous months. The Labor Department on Friday revised April payroll gains down to 147,000, from an initial estimate of 177,000

Stocks rose