March Jobs Report Exceeds Expectations Amid Trade Turmoil: A Snapshot of a Resilient Labor Market
On Friday, April 4, 2025, the U.S. Department of Labor released its March jobs report, revealing that the economy added 228,000 jobs last month, far surpassing analysts’ expectations of 140,000. The unemployment rate ticked up slightly to 4.2%, driven by an increase in labor force participation as more individuals entered or re-entered the workforce. While the report highlights continued strength in the labor market, it comes against the backdrop of escalating trade tensions following President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariff announcement earlier this week.
