With the U.S. economy still dealing with a shaky start to the year and companies cutting back on hiring, the latest jobs number came up well shy of expectations at 160,000 in April.

Furthermore, the unemployment rate held steady at 5%. It was expected to ease.

Still, the labor market, with layoffs at a 40-year low and job openings near a record high, is much healthier than it has been during some dark days in recent years.