Labor and Industry Trends
Cross currents
Friday's numbers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Situation report point to a still-strong labor market, with better than expected job growth. Nonfarm payrolls increased by 228,000, higher than the average monthly gain of 158,000 over the prior 12 months and well above estimates of 130,000. The unemployment rate has remained in a narrow range of 4.0% to 4.2% since May 2024. The slight uptick in March was mostly driven by more people being in the labor force.
Beyond the numbers
There are many cross currents influencing the current economic and labor landscape. The April 2nd tariff announcements and subsequent 90 day pause announced on April 9th, regardless of one's view, have introduced an extraordinary degree of uncertainty regarding their final state, timing and possible retaliatory measures by our trading partners. Companies have historically navigated challenging macro-environments when they were known. However, the current unknowns present unique difficulties. Despite this macroeconomic noise, our clients must continue to run their business, maintain competitive customer interfaces and drive internal efficiencies. Many of these projects are multi-year initiatives that must proceed regardless of headline noise.
We encourage clients to engage with Kforce professionals to help you navigate these turbulent times and plan for your next phase of growth. With our 60 years of experience, Kforce has successfully guided clients through many challenging operating environments.
by Michael Blackman
CURRENT LABOR INDICATORS
4.2
Total Unemployment
%
228,000
Total Job Gains Vs 130,000 Expected
Published APRIL 10, 2025
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
APRIL 2025
This Ruler is for the Space Above and Below the Header Text Area.
It Should Reach from the Bottom of the the Nav Bar to the Top of the Header Text.
And From the Bottom of the Header Text to the Bottom of the Header Photo.
This Ruler is for the Space Between the Bottom of the Hero/Header Text and the
Subheader Copy. Check Your Spacing for Consistency.
This Ruler is for the Space Between Modules/Macros/Sections.
It Should Reach from the Bottom of the Previous Module/Macro to the Top of the Next Section.
This Ruler is for the Space Between Text/Buttons/Callouts. Check Your Spacing for Consistency.
Learn More About Kforce
Learn More About Kforce
As Chief Corporate Development Officer at Kforce, Michael Blackman, a 33-year Kforce veteran, is the primary focal point for the firm with the Wall Street and financial communities. He is regularly sought out by leading economists for his perspectives on the economy and labor markets, and he contributes to a number of key proprietary economic publications.
CHIEF CORPORATE DEVELOPMENT OFFICER
Connect with me
Connect with me
Meet the Author
Michael Blackman
Michael Blackman
AI adaptation
cloud
111K
117K
228K
269K
119K
222K
246K
118K
193K
87K
88K
71K
240K
44K
261K
323K
400K
300K
200K
100K
0
Feb 2025
Dec
2023
Jan 2024
Feb
2024
Mar
2024
Oct
2024
Nov
2024
Dec
2024
Jan 2025
Apr
2024
May
2024
Jun
2024
Jul
2024
Aug
2024
Sep
2024
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Monthly Job Creation in the U.S.
DECEMBER 2023 Through MARCH 2025
Mar 2025
