Added 79,000 fewer jobs in 12 months through March, BLS says

The U.S. economy likely created 79,000 fewer jobs in the 12 months through March than previously estimated, the Labor Department’s Bureau of Labor Statistics said Friday. The preliminary benchmark revision comes weeks after the BLS reported an unexpected drop in July employment, adding to a trend of slowing hiring over the past two years. Businesses have been cautious about adding workers amid uncertainty over the economic outlook and whether the AI boom could replace labor with technology. The available labor pool has also shrunk due to retirements and President Donald Trump’s aggressive immigration crackdowns.