The US added 115,000 jobs in April, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, fuelling cautious optimism about hiring. The jobless rate remained at 4.3% despite high oil prices and rising AI adoption posing risks to the labor market. Despite this, the unemployment rate is considered solid by officials and analysts as it does not tell the full story due to immigration crackdowns and retirements from an aging workforce. However, positive job growth and a solid unemployment rate could prompt the Federal Reserve to focus on inflation as an extended conflict in the Middle East pushes prices higher. Economists suggest that businesses may be more inclined to hire now that they have more clarity around tariffs.