US Economy Adds 139,000 New Jobs in May, Topping Market Forecasts

Health care and leisure and hospitality lead the employment gains.

A "Now Hiring" sign at a coffee shop in Greensboro, N.C., on Sept. 19, 2024. Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times

The U.S. economy added 139,000 new jobs last month, surpassing economists’ expectations and indicating that the U.S. labor market remains in a robust position.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the unemployment rate held steady at 4.2 percent for the third consecutive month.