Story perspectives

March adds 5.55 M jobs; layoffs rise, openings dip

5/6/2026

Summary

Story summary

Employers added 5.55 million gross jobs in March, the strongest increase since February 2024.
Layoffs rose to 1.867 million, led mainly by the professional and business services sector.
Job openings slipped to 6.87 million in March from 6.92 million in February.
More workers quit their jobs in March, indicating confidence in their prospects.
President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown reduced the labor pool, lowering hires needed to keep unemployment steady.

History

Historical Context

President George H.W. Bush signed the Immigration Act of 1990 on Nov 29, 1990, raising annual caps to 700,000 and adding diversity and temporary protected-status visas. Earlier, the 1986 Immigration Reform and Control Act had legalized about 2.7 million undocumented workers, expanding the labor pool. Trump’s stricter enforcement now curtails that supply, tightening the job market.

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Story summary

Employers added 5.55 million gross jobs in March, the strongest increase since February 2024.
Layoffs rose to 1.867 million, led mainly by the professional and business services sector.
Job openings slipped to 6.87 million in March from 6.92 million in February.
More workers quit their jobs in March, indicating confidence in their prospects.
President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown reduced the labor pool, lowering hires needed to keep unemployment steady.

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