U.S. Job Market Defies Expectations with Strong June Growth

Source: BBC News - ‘Strong jump in US jobs as economy defies expectations’ by Charlotte Edwards, 3 July 2025 

The US labour market has once again shown resilience, with hiring figures for June far exceeding economists’ expectations.

According to a BBC report by Charlotte Edwards, the US economy added 147,000 jobs last month - significantly higher than the 110,000 analysts had forecast. 

This positive growth was driven largely by gains in government and healthcare roles. State and local government education alone accounted for approximately 63,500 new positions, while healthcare and social assistance roles increased by 58,600. The unemployment rate also edged down to 4.1% from 4.2% in May.  

From a recruitment perspective, this data - sourced from the US Labor Department and reported by the BBC - indicates continued confidence in specific public sector areas, even amid broader caution within the private sector. Professional services, federal government roles, and manufacturing all saw hiring declines in June, signalling a more conservative approach by private employers. Many firms remain hesitant to onboard new talent or replace outgoing staff - a trend worth watching for global recruitment professionals. 

Notably, job figures for April and May were also revised upward by a total of 16,000, suggesting previous underestimations of labour market strength. However, the number of long-term unemployed individuals rose by 190,000, bringing the total to 1.6 million - a stark reminder that headline growth figures may mask underlying challenges. 

Commentary included in the BBC’s coverage highlights the current complexities of the US hiring landscape. George Brown, senior economist at Schroders, noted that despite trade tensions and policy uncertainty, many employers are holding onto talent in light of recent labour shortages - particularly in sectors and regions affected by tighter immigration policies. 

As the Federal Reserve adopts a ‘wait and see’ stance on inflation and tariffs, and with political pressures mounting on interest rate decisions, employers may remain cautious in their hiring strategies through the second half of 2025. At APSCo, we continue to monitor global labour trends and economic indicators that affect recruitment markets.  

Source: BBC News – Strong jump in US jobs as economy defies expectations by Charlotte Edwards, published 3 July 2025 

How APSCo is supporting members who are interested in U.S. expansion

We have an exclusive trade delegation to New York City and Chicago this October, kindly sponsored by Workwell Global. The programme of seminars and hosted meetings provide all the expert information you need to inform your decisions to open overseas operations and drive future international growth - a fantastic opportunity to establish important professional connections and explore opportunities across multiple dynamic U.S. cities.

There is an exclusive virtual session, 'Discover U.S. Expansion Opportunities' hosted by Ann Swain, Global CEO of APSCo, exploring why the U.S. should be on your growth radar. The event will also give you the inside track on APSCo's upcoming trade delegation. The webinar will be available on-demand.

We also have a wide variety of International Services available to support members looking to expand to the U.S., including a U.S. Legal Contract Service, Global Edge and U.S. Reports.