Thread by @nytimes

U.S. job growth slowed significantly in April, confounding rosy forecasts for the recovery and sharpening debates over how best to revive a labor market that was severely weakened by the pandemic. nyti.ms/3b9oOkB

The U.S. added 266,000 jobs last month, the government reported Friday, a third of the gains than in March. The jobless rate rose slightly to 6.1%, as more people rejoined the labor force. nyti.ms/3b9oOkB

As the economy fitfully recovers, there are divergent accounts of what’s going on in the labor market. nyti.ms/3b9oOkB

Employers, particularly in the restaurant and hospitality industry, have reported scant response to help-wanted ads, though hiring those sectors picked up some. nyti.ms/3f0dNDp

Several employers have blamed what they call overly generous government jobless benefits, including a temporary $300-a-week federal stipend that was part of an emergency pandemic relief program.
But there are other forces constraining the return to work. nyti.ms/3bahsx0

Millions of Americans have said that health concerns and child care have prevented them from returning to work. Millions of others not actively job hunting expect to be hired back by their previous employers once more businesses reopen fully. nyti.ms/3b9oOkB

Americans are coming back into the job market as the economy heals, pushing the share of people working or looking for jobs slightly higher. Yet the key gauge of labor market vitality remains far below its level before the pandemic. nyti.ms/2Q2k3SC

The economy still has a lot of ground to regain before returning to prepandemic levels. Millions of jobs have vanished since February 2020, and the labor force has shrunk. nyti.ms/3b9oOkB

Read more about the latest U.S. jobs report and the prospects for recovery. nyti.ms/3vOsTT1