Despite the criticism and panic, Donald Trump’s economic agenda appears to be working. The U.S. economy added 147,000 jobs in June, exceeding expectations and reinforcing a picture of resilience even as uncertainty clouds the broader outlook. According to new data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the unemployment rate fell slightly to 4.1% from 4.2%, and revisions to April and May figures tacked on an additional 16,000 jobs to prior estimates.
Much of June’s growth was concentrated in public-sector education, with state and local government schools contributing 63,500 new positions—nearly half of the month’s total, writes NBC News. The healthcare and social assistance sectors followed with 58,600 jobs, while leisure and hospitality added 20,000 and construction gained 15,000. In contrast, the federal government, professional services, and manufacturing sectors posted employment declines, reflecting uneven conditions across industries.
Federal workers down for 5th month in a row pic.twitter.com/cdJ4rTMdoE
— zerohedge (@zerohedge) July 3, 2025
Financial markets responded positively to the headline numbers, with stock futures moving higher in early trading. However, expectations of a Federal Reserve interest rate cut in July appeared to cool, amid signs of economic strength and persistent inflation concerns. President Donald Trump has continued to call for lower rates and has criticized Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, though Powell has characterized the economy as stable in recent public remarks.
Some on social media have noted a growing trend between Trump and his predecessor.
WEIRD? Is it weird that the jobs reports during Biden’s term were almost always revised downward and Trump’s are revised upward? https://t.co/wVeerwJ1UU pic.twitter.com/fme3EkTUEm
— @amuse (@amuse) July 3, 2025
Trade policy remains a key source of business anxiety. The Trump administration’s latest round of tariffs is expected to be clarified by July 9, though White House officials have indicated that the timeline may be flexible. Until then, many firms remain cautious about hiring, wary of rising costs and shifting regulatory conditions.
Meanwhile, a report from Challenger, Gray & Christmas noted that employers announced 82,932 planned hires through June, a 19% increase over last year’s total at this time. Still, hiring activity remains well below pre-pandemic norms, constrained by cost pressures, automation trends, and policy ambiguity.
Taken together, the June employment report reflects a labor market that continues to grow and it’s leaving Trump critics, on both the left and right, scratching their heads.
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