• US added 139,000 jobs in May, surpassing expectations.
• The unemployment rate remained steady at 4.2% for the third consecutive month.
• Recent tariff concerns are impacting job growth and economic stability.

In May, the United States added 139,000 jobs, exceeding economists' expectations of 126,000, while the unemployment rate held steady at 4.2%. This report signifies the third consecutive month where unemployment remained unchanged, reflecting a trend of economic stagnation despite job growth. Earlier job figures for March and April were revised downward, indicating 95,000 fewer jobs created than previously reported, according to Business Insider and Reuters.

Tariff uncertainties and federal budget cuts have led to mixed sentiments among employers, limiting their hiring capabilities. "Tariffs, funding cuts, consumer spending, and overall economic pessimism are putting intense pressure on companies' workforces," stated Andrew Challenger, senior vice president at Challenger, Gray & Christmas. Additionally, the manufacturing sector faced setbacks, with factories cutting 8,000 jobs in May, exacerbating the labor market's challenges, according to NPR and Reuters.

Despite these challenges, certain sectors like hospitals and restaurants continued to show growth, with healthcare specifically adding jobs. However, the federal workforce has contracted significantly, down by 59,000 jobs this year. Wage growth has also remained relatively strong, up 3.9% from the previous year, indicating some resilience amidst broader staffing declines, reports NPR and Business Insider.