Is the Labor Market Gaining Strength?

WSJ What’s News

The Wall Street Journal

Daily News, News

4.1 • 4.2K Ratings

🗓️ 8 May 2026

⏱️ 12 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

P.M. Edition for May 8. The U.S. economy added 115,00 jobs in April, beating analyst expectations for the second month in a row. WSJ economics reporter Chao Deng explains how this could be a turning point for the labor market–and what that means for the Federal Reserve. Plus, the Virginia Supreme Court threw out Democrats’ efforts at redistricting ahead of the midterm elections. We hear from Journal national political reporter Ken Thomas about how this could affect Democrats’ chances at retaking the House. And we’re exclusively reporting that Intel will supply some chips for Apple devices—a deal that could be huge for the chipmaker’s attempt to turn around its business. Alex Ossola hosts. Sign up for the WSJ's free What's News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	How are the U.S. businesses of Philip Morris International invested in America?
0:05.0	We're invested in advancing science, giving adults who smoke better options.
0:10.0	We're invested in American manufacturing, helping local economies thrive.
0:15.0	We're invested in community, supporting military veterans and their families,
0:19.0	disaster relief, and economic empowerment.
0:22.5	Because we're proud to be invested in America.
0:25.9	See how at uspMI.com.
0:33.8	April's job numbers blow past expectations, but we may not be out of the low-hire, low-fire
0:39.6	labor market quite yet. Plus, what a decision by the Virginia Supreme Court means for Democrats'
0:45.5	hopes of retaking the House in the midterms.
0:47.8	While this is certainly something that makes Democrats winning back control the House much more difficult.
0:55.6	I don't think this decision favors Republicans in the big picture.
1:01.5	Why is that? We'll get into it.
1:03.9	And in a big win for Intel, it will supply some chips for Apple devices, a deal that was
1:09.1	pushed by the Trump administration.
1:11.2	It's Friday, May 8th. I'm Alex Oslo for the Wall Street Journal. This is the PM edition of
1:16.7	What's News, the top headlines and business stories that move the world today. Let's start the show with some good news.
1:34.1	U.S. employers added 115,000 jobs in April, blowing past analyst expectations for the second month in a row.
1:41.2	Meanwhile, the unemployment rate stayed at 4.3%. For more on what's behind the numbers,
1:46.1	I'm joined now by WSJ economics reporter, Chow Dang. Chow, a few months ago, economists were really
1:52.0	worried about a hiring slowdown hurting the economy. Now this is the second really good month
1:57.5	in a row of jobs numbers. Can we safely say that the labor market has strengthened?
	...

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