Job gains in the services sectors continued to rocket higher in April as hiring remained hot for computer system designers, social workers and health-care professionals. Manufacturing, on the other hand, posted a third straight month of lackluster employment figures.
CNBC studied the net changes by industry for April jobs based on the data from the Labor Department contained in the jobs report released Friday. The government said the U.S. economy added 263,000 jobs last month, more than the 190,000 increase expected by economists polled by Refinitiv.
The business and professional services sector alone added 76,000 jobs, with strong hiring in computer systems design, temporary help services, and building and dwelling services like pest extermination, landscaping and housekeeping. The sector also includes lawyers, accountants and consultants.
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The health care and education sector — a consistent employment juggernaut — came in at second place with a gain of 62,000 jobs. Health care and social services, including ambulatory outpatient care, hospitals and nursing and resident facilities added 50,000 jobs.
The manufacturing industry, a priority for President Donald Trump, failed to post a robust rebound in April after an anemic showing in March. The sector added just 4,000 jobs last month versus March's zero growth and February's 8,000 gain.
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"Total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 263,000 in April, compared with an average monthly gain of 213,000 over the prior 12 months," the Labor Department said in a release. "In April, notable jobs gains occurred in professional and business services, construction, health care, and social assistance."
Leisure and hospitality had a healthy net job gain of 34,000 thanks to a surge in employment adds in the food service industry. That topped the preliminary March read of 33,000; the leisure employment gains for March were adjusted higher to 37,000 in subsequent releases.
Retail trade employment shed 12,000 jobs following a loss of 15,000 jobs in March.