Total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 175,000 in April 2024

Nonfarm payroll employment increased by 175,000 in April 2024, lower than the average monthly gain of 242,000 over the prior 12 months. Since April 2023, the over-the-month change in employment has ranged from 165,000 to 315,000. Total nonfarm payroll employment has risen from 155.5 million in April 2023 to 158.3 million in April 2024.

In April 2024, job gains occurred in health care, in social assistance, and in transportation and warehousing.

Health care added 56,000 jobs in April, in line with the average monthly gain of 63,000 over the prior 12 months. In April, employment continued to increase in ambulatory health care services, hospitals, and nursing and residential care facilities.

Employment in social assistance increased by 31,000 in April, led by a gain in individual and family services. Social assistance added an average of 21,000 jobs per month over the prior 12 months.

In April, transportation and warehousing added 22,000 jobs, with gains in couriers and messengers and warehousing and storage. Over the prior 12 months, employment in transportation and warehousing had shown little net change.

Employment in retail trade continued to trend up in April (+20,000). Over the prior 12 months, the industry added an average of 7,000 jobs per month. In April, employment increased in general merchandise retailers, building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers, and health and personal care retailers. Electronics and appliance retailers lost 3,000 jobs.

These data are from the Current Employment Statistics program and are seasonally adjusted. To learn more, see "The Employment Situation — April 2024." Also see more charts of national employment, hours, and earnings data.