U.S. jobs growth has averaged 174,000 per month so far in 2017, compared to an average monthly gain of 187,000 in 2016, the Bureau of Labor Statistics says.
The decline in employment, the first in years, comes after 83 months of job growth. The Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that the data probably show the short-term effect of recent hurricanes.
The unemployment rate for black workers has now dropped below 8 percent, the Bureau of Labor Statistics says. Some of April's biggest job gains came in hospitality, health care and social assistance.
The unemployment rate, meanwhile, rose just slightly, ticking up a tenth of a percentage point to 4.8 percent. Average hourly wages increased by 3 cents.
Over the course of 2016, average hourly earnings rose 2.9 percent, the Bureau of Labor Statistics says. The unemployment rate was little changed: 4.7 percent, compared to 4.6 percent in November.
The unemployment rate was little changed, ticking back down to 4.9 percent. Hourly earnings rose 10 cents over last month — in total, wages are up 2.8 percent year over year.