By Alicia Wallace, CNN(CNN) — US job growth slowed considerably last month, with just 175,000 positions added in April, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data released Friday. In the decade before the pandemic (which also was the nation’s longest-ever period of employment expansion), monthly job gains averaged 183,000. Nearly half (about 87,000) of April’s employment gains were in the health care and social assistance sector, which has been a key driver of job gains. Annual wage gains, as measured by the BLS, are at their lowest level since May 2021. While the job gains were lower in April, Friday’s report doesn’t trigger the latter, economists and analysts said.

Source: CNN May 03, 2024 11:34 UTC