U.S. Adds 172,000 Jobs in May, Beating Expectations; Entertainment Sector Employment Declines
By
Ted Johnson
Warm and crisp on the edges. A bagel with a bit of bite.
Summary
The U.S. added 172,000 jobs in May 2025, beating expectations, with the unemployment rate holding steady at 4.3%. Gains were seen in leisure and hospitality, health care, and local government, signaling improvement after a lackluster 2025. However, employment in movies and music fell by 2,700 to 328,000, and broadcasting/content providers lost 4,000 jobs to 333,200. Average hourly earnings rose 12 cents (0.3%) to $37.53.
Key quotes
· 4 pulledThe U.S. added 172,000 jobs in May, beating expectations, as the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.3%.
With gains in leisure and hospitality, health care and local government, the job situation again showed signs of improvement after a lackluster year in 2025.
But the gains were not felt across industries. Jobs in movies and music fell by 2,700 to 328,000, and employment among broadcasting and content providers fell by 4,000 to 333,200.
Average hourly earnings rose by 12 cents, or 0.3 percent, to $37.53.
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