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’ 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, matching forecasts by economists polled by FactSet. 

Job growth was slightly weaker in May compared with previous months. Employers added 177,000 jobs in April and 228,000 in March. 

—This is a developing story and will be updated.