Unemployment falls below 4 percent for first time since 2000

Unemployment falls below 4 percent for first time since 2000
UPI

May 4 (UPI) — The U.S. unemployment rate fell to 3.9 percent in April, the lowest it’s been since December 2000.

The Labor Department outlined the gains in its latest jobs report, which showed the number of unemployed persons was 6.3 million. The unemployment rate fell from 4.1 percent for the first time in six months.

Employers in April added 164,000 jobs, up slightly from March’s 103,000 jobs added to the U.S. workforce, which was the smallest increase since last fall.

Most industries added jobs in April, including professional and business services, manufacturing, health care and mining.

Wages were slightly up in April by 2.6 percent, increasing the average hourly wage to $26.84.

The unemployment rate for women decreased to 3.5 percent, down from 3.8 percent in March.
Other worker groups showed little change: men (3.7 percent), white Americans (3.6 percent), black Americans (6.6 percent), and Hispanic Americans (4.8 percent).

President Donald Trump early Friday tweeted about the success.

“Because Jobs in the U.S. are doing so well, Americans receiving unemployment aid is the lowest since 1973. Great!”

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