Non-farm payrolls increased by 164,000 in April, vs 192,000 jobs expected

• May 4, 2018
• realestatelife
• Announcements, Business & Markets, Real Estate, Real Estate Finance, Your Real Estate Life

The unemployment rate fell to 3.9 percent in April, an 18-year low, even as nonfarm payrolls rose by just 164,000, according to a report Friday from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Economists had expected payroll growth of 192,000 and the jobless rate to drop by one-tenth of a percent to 4.0 percent. The official jobs tally initially showed an increase of an upwardly revised 135,000 in March.

The closely watched average hourly earnings number rose by 4 cents, equating to a 2.6 percent annualized gain, a bit off the pace from the previous month.

A more encompassing measure of unemployment that includes discouraged workers and those holding part-time positions for economic reasons fell to 7.8 percent, the lowest since July 2001.

The report comes with job creation off to its best start in five years during the first quarter.

Markets have been watching the employment numbers as much for signs of wage inflation as for the pace of job gains. Average hourly earnings have been increasing at about a 2.7 percent pace, which is above the recovery pace but still short of where Federal Reserve officials are targeting.

The central bank is also looking closely at the data. Fed officials have indicated they are likely to raise interest rates a total of three times in 2018, though a faster pace of wage inflation could make for more aggressive policy moves.