CBJ – May 4 – The American labour market appears to be strengthening, according to reports.

Reports indicate that companies throughout the United States added more than 179,000 jobs in the month of April, refreshing news for the country's near stagnant economic recovery and sluggish improvement of the national unemployment rate. The latest figures indicate a nationwide unemployment rate of 8.8 per cent.

According to the report, 138,000 of the new jobs involve the services sector, while the goods-producing sector saw its employment numbers increase by 41,000, and an additional 25,000 jobs in the manufacturing sector.

However, Steven Ricchiuto, Chief Economist at Mizuho Securities, a New York-based financial company, said in a statement, "This pace keeps things moving forward but not at a strong enough growth rate to really, really improve labour market conditions and improve the economy. The labour market is still underperforming the expectations where growth will be and should be at this point."

Scott David, CEO of United Parcel Service (UPS), also said in a statement, "Employment has begun to show signs of improvement. In the United States, unemployment dipped below nine per cent for the first time in almost two years, further evidence than the recovery continues."

The report indicates that more American central bankers would like to see increased "strength" in the United States' labour market, a means as to why the recovery has been slower than desired. Ben Bernanke, Chairman of the Federal Reserve, said in a statement, "The labour market is improving gradually and we would like to make sure that it is sustainable. The longer it goes on, the more confident we are."