In a surprise, the job market showed strength in April despite high interest rates

A waitress works at a restaurant in Chicago, Thursday, March 23, 2023. On Friday, the U.S. government issued the April jobs report. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh, File)

Hiring unexpectedly accelerated last month despite the weight of rising interest rates and recent stress in the banking system.

U.S. employers added 253,000 jobs in April, according to a report from the Labor Department Friday, a significant uptick from the month before, when revised figures show 165,000 jobs added. The unemployment rate fell to 3.4% from 3.5% in March.

Construction companies added 15,000 jobs in April while factories added 11,000.