US adds 177,000 jobs in April, beating estimates as unemployment rate remains 4.2%

The United States added 177,000 jobs in April 2025. The numbers blew past forecasts and proved the labor market still has a pulse despite Donald Trump’s tariffs hanging over global trade.

Friday’s report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics showed that employers kept hiring, even with pressure building between Washington and its trading partners.

Jobs report comes in above expectations

The hiring figure landed well above the 133,000 expected by analysts, though it fell short of the 185,000 that was originally reported for March. That March number, by the way, got knocked down after a revision.

The unemployment rate stayed right where it was last month—4.2%—without any surprises. That basically means people are still getting hired fast enough to balance out the number of people entering the labor force.

No major gains, no major losses. Just a labor market refusing to crack under the weight of foreign policy chaos. This report came just a few days before the next Federal Reserve meeting on May 6 and 7, where officials will decide what to do with interest rates.

At the moment, most traders aren’t betting on any rate cuts. The numbers don’t scream panic, and the CME FedWatch Tool shows expectations leaning heavily toward no changes.

Bond yields react as traders brace for Fed decision

After the jobs data hit, the US Treasury market moved fast. The 10-year note yield ticked up 3 basis points to 4.262%, and the 2-year yield jumped over 4 basis points, ending the day at 3.748%.

A basis point is one-hundredth of a percent, and just to be clear, bond yields go up when prices go down. That flip happens because investors start unloading bonds when they think interest rates will stay high.

This market movement also came right as news broke that China’s Ministry of Commerce is open to restarting trade negotiations with the US. Officials from Beijing said American reps had reached out “multiple times” through what they called “relevant parties,” basically trying to reopen discussions on Trump’s blanket tariffs.

But China didn’t just roll over. In the statement, Chinese authorities said they’re willing to talk, but they’re demanding the US clean up its act first. If Washington wants any serious conversations, it’ll have to “cancel the unilateral tariffs” and reverse its “wrong practices.” Otherwise, Beijing warned, there won’t be any trust left to rebuild.

Right now, the US is hitting Chinese imports with a brutal 145% tariff, and China has slapped back with a 125% levy on American goods. Neither side has blinked. China’s statement said if the US fails to act, it will “further compromise mutual trust” and tank any potential progress before it begins.