Trump Economy Remains Resilient as April Jobs Report Beats Expectations Despite Iran Conflict

WASHINGTON — The U.S. economy added 115,000 jobs in April, far exceeding economists’ forecasts and demonstrating continued strength under President Donald Trump even as tensions with Iran persist in the Middle East.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Friday that nonfarm payroll employment rose by 115,000 last month, roughly double the roughly 55,000 to 65,000 jobs economists had predicted. The unemployment rate held steady at 4.3 percent. March’s gain was revised upward to 185,000 from an initial 178,000.

Job gains occurred in health care (+37,000), transportation and warehousing (+30,000), and retail trade (+22,000). Federal government employment continued to decline.

Acting Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling called the report evidence of an accelerating economic comeback. “Despite doom-and-gloom rhetoric from pundits and economists, America’s economic comeback is clearly accelerating under President Trump, with job growth now shattering expectations two months in a row,” Sonderling said. He noted private-sector gains have exceeded 700,000 since 2025, driven by Trump’s tax cuts and focus on domestic manufacturing and construction.

The stronger-than-expected data helped lift financial markets Friday. The S&P 500 rose 0.7 percent toward an all-time high, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.18 percent, and the Nasdaq climbed 1.21 percent. The S&P 500 is on track for a sixth straight weekly gain.

Economists and analysts attributed the market’s resilience to strong corporate profits in early 2026 and hopes that the fragile ceasefire with Iran will hold, potentially reopening the Strait of Hormuz. Brent crude oil traded near $100 a barrel Friday, down from peaks above $119 earlier in the conflict.

Rep. Jason Smith (R-Mo.) said the numbers were “good for working families, good for their wallets, and good for our country.” Investment strategists described the labor market as resilient despite higher fuel costs and geopolitical uncertainty from the Iran conflict.

The report marks the latest positive indicator for the Trump administration’s economic policies. Officials credit tax cuts, trade measures, and a focus on American workers for sustaining private-sector growth while right-sizing the federal workforce.

No slowdown in hiring momentum is evident heading into the summer, with the administration projecting continued stability as diplomatic efforts in the Middle East continue.