Actalent Labor Market and Economy Report: A Look at Trends in April 2026

U.S. employment increased by 115,000 jobs in April, exceeding expectations for the second consecutive month.

By industry, job gains were largely concentrated in health care (+37,300), transportation and warehousing (+30,300) and retail trade (+21,800), while federal government employment continued to decline (-9,000).

Revisions to prior months highlight greater volatility in the 2026 labor market. February’s employment decline was revised down further, from 133,000 to 156,000, while March’s job gain was revised up from 178,000 to 185,000.

Overall, U.S. employment has increased by a net 304,000 jobs over the first four months of 2026. That total exceeds the 169,000 jobs added during the same period in 2025 and suggests continued resiliency despite mounting economic headwinds. Still, the headline net gain masks significant variability across industries. The health care and social assistance sector alone has accounted for 221,000 jobs, or 73% of the 304,000 added so far in 2026.

Average hourly earnings rose 3.6% in April, slightly above March’s 3.4% increase but below the annual gains of 3.7% to 3.9% observed over the past 12 months.