The Labor Department released a report on Friday showing that the economy added 244,000 jobs in April. The number of jobs created was higher than the 185,000 that economists had predicted. The unemployment rate rose slightly to 9%, which analysts say is due to discouraged workers reentering the labor market to look for work. The jobs were created in the private sector, with government losing jobs. Economists say that the number of jobs created is good, especially considering the turmoil in the world effecting the economy.
See "April Job Data Is Strong, but Some Doubt Trend Can Last", Christine Hauser, The New York Times, May 5, 2011