WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. unemployment remained steady at 6.1% in April as the nation's businesses added just 266,000 jobs.
Job growth fell sharply compared with the 770,000 jobs added in March and 536,000 jobs added in February, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) said May 7.
Job gains in leisure and hospitality and local government were partially offset by losses in temporary services and couriers and messengers.
The number of unemployed persons remained at 9.8 million for April, the BLS said.
A total of 18.3% of employees teleworked due to COVID-19 in April, down from 21% in March. This includes people who teleworked at any point during the reporting period.
In addition, 9.4 million people reported they were unable to work in April because their employer lost business or closed due to COVID-19. This includes people who did not work at all and those who worked fewer hours. That figure is down from 11.4% in March, BLS reported.
