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The U.S. added 177,000 jobs in April and the unemployment rate was unchanged, a boost for President Donald Trump after surprise data earlier in the week that the economy shrank in the first three months of the year.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) said the unemployment rate held firm at 4.2 percent. Employment was ticking up broadly across the private sector, while it was down with the federal government.
The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), spearheaded by Elon Musk, has slashed federal spending, including cutting jobs at various departments, since Trump entered the White House in January.
“Employment continued to trend up in health care, transportation and warehousing, financial activities, and social assistance. Federal government employment declined,” the BLS said.
This is a breaking news story and more information will be added soon.
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