May jobs surge beats expectations as unemployment holds at 4.3%

The U.S. added 172,000 jobs in May, far above economists’ forecasts of roughly 80,000, with the unemployment rate unchanged at 4.3%, signaling a resilient labor market amid inflationary pressures. The stronger-than-expected payrolls come after a patch of job losses last fall and winter, suggesting momentum for the economy, though policymakers caution that inflation and higher energy costs could weigh on consumer spending and hiring going forward.