The U.S. economy added 228,000 jobs in March 2025, nearly 100,000 above economists’ expectations of 130,000, per the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data released on April 4, 2025.
The White House, in a statement that day, called it one of the largest monthly gains in two years, predating the 10% tariff on imports effective April 5, 2025.
The unemployment rate rose from 4.1% to 4.2%, with labor force participation up by 232,000 to 62.5%. Job growth spanned multiple sectors. Retail trade added 23,700 jobs, transportation and warehousing 22,900, and construction 13,000, per BLS and White House figures.
Healthcare and manufacturing specifics were not detailed, but full-time workers increased by 459,000, signaling broad labor market activity. Nominal hourly wages rose 4% year-over-year, though monthly growth slowed to 0.4%, hinting at uneven gains.
Private sector jobs dominated, comprising 58% of the total, a shift from the prior administration’s 75% government-related job growth, per the White House. Federal employment fell by 4,000 in March, part of cuts tied to the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), with Challenger, Gray & Christmas reporting 275,240 total job losses, suggesting larger reductions pending in BLS data.
The White House linked the surge to Trump’s deregulation and tariff policies, announced April 2, 2025, under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.
Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt claimed in her X post on April 4, 2025, “The Golden Age of America is on its way!”, though the data precedes tariff impacts.
GREAT NEWS! The economy is starting to roar with a strong 228,000 jobs added in the month of March — well ahead of the market’s expectation. There was also a sharp increase in transportation, construction, and warehousing employment. The President’s push to onshore jobs here in…
— Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) April 4, 2025
On April 4, 2025, China responded to earlier trade developments by imposing tariffs on U.S. goods, contributing to a notable 6% decline in the S&P 500 that day.
Despite this setback, economists highlight the underlying resilience of the markets and remain hopeful, suggesting that while trade tensions may pose challenges, there’s potential for constructive solutions and renewed stability in the future.