U.S. Adds 211,000 Jobs In April; Unemployment 4.4%

The economy generated 211,000 new jobs in April, rebounding from a disappointing March and pointing to steady U.S. economic growth ahead. Economists polled by MarketWatch had predicted a 190,000 increase in nonfarm jobs. The unemployment rate dipped to 4.4% from 4.5%, a postrecession low last matched in May 2007, the government said Friday. Average wages climbed 0.3% to $26.19 an hour. Hourly pay increased 2.5% from April 2016 to April 2017, down from 2.6% in the prior month. Hours worked rose 0.1 hour to 34.4 hours a week. The government cut its estimate of new jobs created in March to 79,000 from 98,000. February's gain was raised to 232,000 from 219,000.