The BLS reported that over the month of April, 165,000 payroll jobs were added to the U.S. economy.

Both the February and March estimates from the BLS were revised up sharply. New payroll jobs added over the month of February were revised upward by 64,000, to reach 332,000; March's preliminary estimate was revised upward by 50,000, to reach 138,000.

Contributions to Change in Nonfarm Payroll Employment, thousands, SA

Additional detail:

  • Private, service-producing industries added an additional 185,000 payroll jobs in April; losses of payroll jobs in goods-producing industries (down 9,000) and government (down 11,000) led to a net increase of 165,000 payroll jobs.
  • Professional and business service industries led the way in April: the sector added 73,000 jobs last month; 31,000 of these were in temporary employment services.
  • Leisure and hospitality industries added 43,000 jobs last month. So far in 2013, leisure and hospitality industries have added 175,000 payroll jobs, showing significant gains each month.
  • The retail sector added 29,000 jobs last month.