The
national unemployment rate rose to 9.0 percent in April, up from 8.8
percent in March, according to figures released this morning by the U.S.
Department of Labor. Employers added 244,000 new jobs to their payrolls
last month, but the government agency says the number of unemployed was
“little changed” at 13.7 million. Because of the brighter hiring picture, more people returned to the work
force seeking jobs, which explains the rising unemployment rate even
though the number of jobs rose.