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Employment
US jobless claims hit 4mth high
The number of Americans filing new applications for unemployment benefits rose more than expected last week, reaching a four-month high, though economists said the broader trend continued to point to a resilient United States labour market. According to data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) on Thursday, initial claims for state unemployment benefits increased by 13,000 to a seasonally adjusted 225,000 in the week ended 30 May. The result exceeded market expectations for 213,000 claims and marked the highest level since early February. Despite the increase, economists largely attributed the rise to volatility associated with the Memorial Day holiday period, noting that claims often increase around public holidays. There was little evidence that the ongoing conflict in the Middle East had yet affected employment conditions, although uncertainty surrounding the economic outlook has grown. The four-week moving average of claims, which smooths weekly fluctuations, rose by 6,500 to 214,750. While claims have moved toward the upper end of their 190,000 to 230,000 range for 2026, layoffs remain low by historical standards. Applications for unemployment benefits could remain elevated in coming weeks as the
Employment
US job openings jump to 2yr high in April
United States job openings unexpectedly surged in April to their highest level in nearly two years, signalling resilient demand for workers even as hiring activity slowed and employee confidence weakened. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported on Tuesday that available positions climbed to 7.6 million during April, an increase of 731,000 from the previous month and the highest reading since May 2024. Economists had expected job openings to total 6.88 million. The increase pushed the number of available jobs above the total number of unemployed workers. The job openings rate rose by 0.4 percentage points to 4.6% of the labour force. Professional and business services accounted for the bulk of the increase, with openings rising by 668,000 positions. The sharp gain may indicate growing demand linked to artificial intelligence-related investment and business activity. Healthcare and social assistance, traditionally one of the largest sources of job creation in the United States, added 89,000 openings during the month. In contrast, financial activities recorded a decline of 134,000 available positions, while most other sectors experienced little change. Despite the rise in vacancies, hiring activity weakened
Employment
Aus unemployment grows to 4.5% in April
Australia’s unemployment rate increased to 4.5% in April as both full-time and part-time employment sank, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). Employment fell by 18,600 people to 14,737,400 during the month. Westpac economists had forecast a 15,000 increase in employment and a 4.3% unemployment rate. “Compared to what we usually see in April, more people remained unemployed this month,” said ABS head of labour statistics Sean Crick. “Both full-time and part-time employment fell, by 11,000 and 8,000 people respectively.” The unemployment rate was 4.3% in March, and the number of employed people had risen by nearly 18,000 that month. Full-time employment among women dropped by 19,000 people, while part-time female employment declined by 13,000. This is Australia’s first decrease in female employment since August 2025. Employment among men increased by 8,000 for full-time workers and 5,000 for part-time workers, meanwhile. Hours worked rose by 15.8 million last month, or 0.9% per person. In March, hours worked increased by 9.2 million. Full-time hours worked were up 1.0% per person in April, while for part-time workers this increased by 0.6%.
Employment
US payrolls beat forecasts despite warning signs
United States job growth exceeded expectations in April, although several indicators within the closely watched nonfarm payrolls report pointed to a labour market that continues to lose momentum amid broader economic uncertainty. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported on Friday that nonfarm payrolls increased by a seasonally adjusted 115,000 during the month, above market expectations for 62,000 jobs but below the revised gain of 185,000 recorded in March. The unemployment rate held steady at 4.3%, reinforcing the view that only modest employment growth is currently required to maintain stable labour market conditions due to limited expansion in the workforce. Average hourly earnings rose by 0.2% for the month and 3.6% from a year earlier, both below market forecasts of 0.3% monthly growth and 3.8% annual growth, suggesting wage pressures may be easing. Despite the stronger-than-expected headline figure, the report also highlighted several underlying concerns, including another decline in labour force participation and continued weakness in technology-related employment as businesses maintain a cautious hiring environment. The labour force participation rate fell to 61.8%, its lowest level since October 2021,
Employment
US private sector adds 109,000 jobs in April
The United States private sector added more jobs than expected in April as the health services industry continued its gains, though medium-sized companies lagged. Private sector employment rose by 109,000, according to the ADP National Employment Report. This is above Reuters-polled economists’ estimate of 99,000, and exceeds March’s increase of 61,000. “Small and large employers are hiring, but we're seeing softness in the middle,” said ADP chief economist Nela Richardson. “Large companies have resources to deploy, and small ones are the most nimble, both important advantages in a complex labour environment.” Businesses with fewer than 50 employees added 65,000 jobs, while those with more than 500 employees added 42,000. Medium-sized businesses increased employment by just 2,000 jobs. Health services and education led gains with 61,000 new jobs last month, by far the most of any sector. It had added 58,000 jobs in both March and February. Trade, transportation, and utilities added 25,000 jobs, rebounding from a 58,000 decrease in March. Service-providing industries grew by 94,000 jobs, while goods-producing industries grew by 15,000. The West saw the largest job increases of any region at 46,000, while the Mi

Employment
US job openings ease; hiring rebounds sharply
United States job openings edged lower in March, while a sharp increase in hiring signalled improving momentum in the labour market after a period of weakness last year. According to the Labor Department’s Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS), vacancies fell by 56,000 to 6.866 million at the end of March, slightly above expectations of 6.84 million. The job openings rate eased to 4.1% from 4.2% in February. Despite the decline in vacancies, hiring rose significantly, climbing by 655,000 to 5.554 million. The hires rate increased to 3.5% from 3.1% in the previous month, indicating stronger employer demand for workers. Layoffs and discharges also increased, rising by 153,000 to 1.867 million, with the rate ticking up to 1.2% from 1.1%, suggesting some pockets of softness remain within the labour market. However, downside risks are building, particularly from geopolitical tensions stemming from the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran. The disruption to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has driven up prices for key commodities, including oil, fertiliser and aluminium, potentially weighing on broader economic activity. For now, labour market resilience is reinforcing expectations that the Federal Reserve
Employment
US job market steady amid global tensions
New applications for United States unemployment benefits fell more than expected last week, signalling continued labour market resilience even as escalating geopolitical tensions and rising energy costs weigh on business sentiment. Initial claims for state unemployment benefits dropped by 11,000 to a seasonally adjusted 207,000 in the week ended 11 April, according to the U.S. Labor Department. The figure came in below economists’ expectations of around 215,000 and remains at the lower end of this year’s 201,000–230,000 range, a level consistent with historically low layoffs. The data underscores a labour market that remains stable in the near term, but economists and policymakers warn that risks are building beneath the surface as the economic fallout from the Middle East conflict intensifies. Firms are holding back on hiring, while higher oil prices and inflation threaten to dampen consumer spending and, in turn, employment. A recent survey from the Federal Reserve’s Beige Book found that businesses across several districts are increasingly relying on temporary or contract workers rather than committing to permanent hires. The report, based on information collected in early April, identified the conflict involv
Employment
Aus unemployment rate stable; full-time work up
Australia’s unemployment rate remained at 4.3% in March as full-time employment rebounded, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) said today. The unemployment rate matched Westpac estimates. The total number of employed Australians climbed to 14,762,800 during the month. “The number of employed people rose by 18,000 and the number of unemployed people fell by 4,000 in March,” said ABS head of labour statistics Sean Crick. Westpac analysts had projected an increase of 20,000 employed people. The participation rate was unchanged from February at 66.8%. The underemployment rate was also stable at 5.9%. “Growth in employment was driven by full-time workers, which rose by 53,000 people in March. This was partly offset by a fall in part-time employment of 35,000 people,” said Crick. Full-time employment rose by 29,000 people among men and by 24,000 among women, the ABS said. In February, overall full-time employment fell by 30,000. March’s drop in part-time employment follows a surge of 79,000 people in February, particularly driven by workers aged 65 and over. Hours worked rose by 0.5% in March, representing 9.2 million additional hours. Full-time hours were up 7.1 million due to the rise in full-time employment
Employment
US job growth rebounds to beat forecasts in March
The United States labour market added 178,000 jobs in March, far more than expected, rebounding from February’s major losses. March’s nonfarm payrolls increase was more than three times the Dow Jones consensus estimate of 59,000. The U.S. had lost 133,000 jobs in February. “In March, job gains occurred in health care, in construction, and in transportation and warehousing. Federal government employment continued to decline,” wrote the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The healthcare sector continued to add jobs during the month, with gains of 76,000. This was driven by an increase of 54,000 in ambulatory healthcare services employment, which the BLS credited to physicians’ office workers returning from a strike. Construction employment was up by 26,000 jobs. The transportation and warehousing industry added 21,000 jobs due to a 20,000 surge among couriers and messengers. While February’s reading was revised down by 41,000 to a loss of 133,000, January’s number was revised upwards by 34,000 to a gain of 160,000. The U.S. unemployment rate was 4.3%, per the BLS, down slightly from February’s 4.4%. The percentage of working-age Americans in the labour force dropped to 61.9%, the lowest since November 2021. Averag