| Actual | Previous | |
| Adjusted | 3.0% | 3.0% |
| Not Adjusted | 3.0% | 3.1% |
Highlights
The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate held steady at 3.0 percent in April, while the unadjusted rate fell by 0.1 percentage points to 3.0.
There were more jobseekers in April than in March, with the number rising to 229,043 in April from 227,828, seasonally adjusted, in March. That figure represents 4.9 percent of the labor force, up from 4.8 percent in March.
At the same time, the number of job openings rose 4.7 percent to 47,435 from 45,297 which indicates a pickup in the demand for workers.
The unemployment rate for those in the chemical sector and petroleum refining industry fell to 3.4 percent from 3.5 percent in March.
Unemployment in the watch industry fell to 5.7 percent in April from 5.8 percent the month before, suggesting the effects of US tariffs continue to be mitigated.
Overall, the labor market is steady with some modest signs of an increase in labor demand.
Definition
The unemployment rate measures the number of unemployed as a percentage of the labour force. Both seasonally adjusted and unadjusted monthly data are provided.
Description
Like the employment data, unemployment data help to gauge the current state as well as the future direction of the economy. Employment data are categorized by sectors. This sector data can go a long way in helping investors determine in which economic sectors they intend to invest.
By tracking the jobs data, investors can sense the degree of tightness in the job market. If employment is tight it is a good bet that interest rates will rise and bond and stock prices will fall. In contrast, when job growth is slow or negative, then interest rates are likely to decline - boosting up bond and stock prices in the process.