Unemployment rate falls to 5.8%—lowest rate since pandemic erupted

U.S. employers added a solid 559,000 jobs in May, showing that the economy continues to expand as consumers and businesses resume their normal activity amid a nationwide decline in COVID-19 infections.

The nation's unemployment rate fell to 5.8% as more jobless workers were hired and others left the labor force, meaning they were not counted as employed. That is the lowest jobless rate since March of 2020, when unemployment was 4.4%. Leisure and hospitality companies led the gains, with 292,000 new jobs. The education sector added 140,000 jobs as schools returned to in-person learning. Employers in health care and social assistance added 46,000 jobs, while manufacturing, wholesale trade and transportation and warehouses gained about 20,000 jobs each.