By Lily Martis
Despite rather gloomy forecasts, a steady stream of jobs continued to rain down in April. According to the latest U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) jobs report, 177,000 jobs were added to the economy, while the unemployment rate held at 4.2%.
“April’s job growth of 177,000 positions demonstrates remarkable resilience amid mounting economic headwinds, exceeding economists’ expectations during a period when consumer confidence plunged to its lowest level since May 2020 and tariff concerns reached an all-time high in consumer survey write-ins,” says Monster Economist Giacomo Santangelo. “However, the moderation from March’s pace [of 185,000] indicates businesses continuing a more measured approach to hiring as they assess the potential impacts of trade policies and rising recession concerns.”
Below, we shared our breakdown of these job numbers along with key takeaways to help employers plan for the months ahead.
Hiring Led By Essential Services and Logistics
The BLS monthly jobs report showed that healthcare continued to lead the way in hiring with gains of 51,000, followed by the transportation and warehousing sector with employment increasing by 29,000. Combined, these two sectors made up almost half (45%) of April’s job numbers.
“The dominance of healthcare and transportation and warehousing in April’s employment gains reveals a labor market increasingly concentrated in essential services and logistics infrastructure, aligning perfectly with Monster’s data showing registered nurses and heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers as their most advertised positions,” Santangelo says. “This hiring pattern reflects deeper structural changes in the economy with an aging population driving healthcare demand and the continued expansion of e-commerce requiring robust delivery networks.”
On Monster, active job postings for registered nurses remain #1 overall on site with heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers #4 overall. Other top jobs hiring within these two sectors this month include:
- Physical therapists (#3 overall)
- Critical care nurses (#5 overall)
- Radiological technologists (#6 overall)
- Light truck and delivery services drivers
- Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers
As these two sectors continue to expand, opportunities may even exist for employers in other industries. “For employers outside these sectors,” Santangelo says, “the concentration of job growth in these specific areas may signal the importance of positioning their organizations to support or complement these expanding industries, potentially through technology integration, supply chain partnerships, or service extensions.”
Finance Job Numbers Continue to Trend Up
The BLS monthly jobs report also showed employment gains within the financial activities sector with the addition of 14,000 payrolls in April. Since its employment trough last year that resulted from extensive cost-cutting measures, the sector has added 103,000 jobs. Santangelo says the sector’s recovery over the past year stems primarily from the Federal Reserve’s interest rate cuts in 2024, which improved operational margins, stronger economic fundamentals that supported financial services growth, and strategic hiring in high-growth areas like technology integration and digital banking.
Looking ahead, “The financial sector is expected to continue modest growth throughout 2025, particularly in diversified banks and payment processors well-positioned in the current economy,” Santangelo says. “However, growth will be moderated by market uncertainty from trade policies affecting capital markets activity, the Federal Reserve’s cautious approach to further rate cuts, and regulatory uncertainty affecting financial institutions.”
As finance employment continues to expand, Monster data shows where both employers and candidates are focusing their efforts. For employers, top jobs hiring include:
- Business operations specialists
- Market research analysts and marketing specialists
- Accountants
Meanwhile, job seekers within the category are looking for top positions, including:
- Data analysts
- Project managers
- Business analysts
Government Layoffs are Snowballing
As part of President Donald Trump’s efforts to reduce federal government headcount, layoffs continued with 9,000 more payrolls cut in April, according to the BLS monthly jobs report. Since January, the BLS says federal government job numbers are down 26,000. Meanwhile, a report from consultancy firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas shows more than 281,000 federal government layoffs so far with estimates that the total impact could equate to 1.2 million jobs when contractors and grant employees are considered.
“Federal government layoffs are causing a chain reaction across the economy that goes well beyond government agencies,” Santangelo says. He continues, “For every federal employee laid off, about two contractors also lose their jobs, creating a snowball effect in multiple industries.” He says the hardest hit sectors will likely include:
- Government contractors in professional services and technology
- Retail and hospitality businesses in areas with many federal workers
- Healthcare providers, especially those serving veterans
- Universities and research institutions that depend on federal grants
Hiring the Class of 2025
With diplomas in hand, this year’s cohort of college graduates are gearing up to hit the job market in May. According to Monster’s 2025 State of the Graduate report, the class of 2025 will be pursuing careers in stable and growing fields, including:
- Business
- Healthcare
- Computer technology
Having started their college careers during the Covid-19 pandemic, which was then followed by high inflation, Santangelo says graduate interest in these fields reflects strategic career planning based on sectors that showed resilience during those recent economic challenges. “This data,” he says, “suggests today’s graduates are prioritizing fields perceived as offering both immediate employment opportunities and long-term career advancement in an increasingly technology-dependent economy.”
When it comes to hiring the class of 2025, rapid onboarding of new graduates, along with continuous learning and career growth opportunities, will be crucial. Not to mention, with firm boundaries set against employers with salary freezes or recent layoffs, Santangelo says, “Companies must demonstrate financial stability and workplace flexibility to attract these cautious yet determined candidates who are strategically navigating uncertain market conditions.”
For industries like healthcare, where demand for labor is at an all-time high, employers should take advantage of this month’s influx of candidates in recent college grads. “With employment projections for RNs showing continued growth and approximately 28% of current nurses planning to retire within the next five years, May represents a crucial hiring window when employers should enhance their recruitment strategies with competitive compensation packages and flexible scheduling options,” Santangelo says.
It’s Time for Teen Jobs
It won’t be long before school is out for the summer and teens will be looking for work in all the usual places: pools and recreation centers, restaurants and ice cream shops, amusement parks, and landscaping. In fact, Monster is already seeing a 5% uptick in these types of summer jobs being searched by candidates. Not to mention, “part time” was the #2 most searched term by job seekers on Monster in April.
Likewise, employers are preparing for the busy summer season with job postings up 6% in April for top positions, including:
- Waiter and waitress
- Host and hostess
- Recreation workers
While Santangelo doesn’t anticipate any new challenges for employers this summer, he does remind them what to expect when hiring teenage talent, such as competition from higher paying sectors, scheduling conflicts with summer school, sports, and extracurricular activities, and compressed timelines fueled by accelerated decision-making by teens accepting early offers. “To overcome these challenges,” he says, “employers should implement competitive wages above minimum requirements, adopt flexible scheduling systems, streamline hiring processes with same-day interviews, and emphasize development opportunities that extend beyond the summer.”
Wage Pressure is Deflating
Four years ago, wage growth peaked in April 2021 due to rising demand for labor associated with pandemic recovery efforts. Today, wages are still increasing — up 0.2% last month or 3.8% over the past year — but at a slower rate. “Unemployment is steady at 4.2%,” Santangelo says, “meaning companies don’t need to offer huge raises to find workers.” Additionally, he says, “Inflation has cooled to 2.4%, so workers’ paychecks are actually gaining purchasing power.”
For the time being, at least, employers may be able to relax a bit when it comes to employee pay. However, employers should also keep in mind that for many candidates — even recent grads — a good salary is still considered the most important aspect of a job. Not to mention, the ongoing trade war could lead to higher prices, which would put a strain on workers’ wallets this summer.
Looking Ahead: This Summer May Turn Cold
While healthcare and transportation and warehousing dominated the BLS monthly jobs report, major industries, including construction, manufacturing, retail, professional and business services, and leisure and hospitality, saw little or no change in April. With consumer confidence dropping and growing uncertainty from the potential impact of tariffs, employees and employers alike may be taking a wait-and-see approach when it comes to making employment moves.
“The relative silence from other industries, combined with the JOLTs report showing job openings at a 7-month low, suggests a potential freezing of the labor market where employers are maintaining current workforces,” Santangelo says. “This pattern aligns with what economists have termed the ‘Big Freeze,’ where employees are staying put and employers aren’t searching for new ones.”
For those who are seeking employment, Monster data shows that job seekers are continuing to prioritize flexibility as “work from home” jobs remain the #1 search overall on Monster. Other top job searches include those for part time (#2 overall) and entry level (#5 overall) positions as grads try to land their first job out of college and teens embark on their summer job searches.
Stay Tuned for the Next Monthly Jobs Report
Monster aims to provide employers with the insight needed to move forward. As you plan your hiring strategy over the next month, check out Monster’s 2025 Work Watch report for the latest hiring trends and insights.
We’ll see you here again in June when we will release our next take on the monthly jobs report.