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Why hiring surged in May despite strain from the Iran war

Season 2026 Episode 116 | 6m 43s

There was surprising strength in the latest U.S. jobs report. Employers added 172,000 jobs in May, the third straight month of job gains. Overall, the labor market appears strong despite concerns about the Iran war, rising prices and artificial intelligence. Amna Nawaz speaks with Diane Swonk, chief economist at KPMG, a multinational accounting and advisory firm, for more analysis.

Major corporate funding for the PBS News Hour is provided by BDO, BNSF, Consumer Cellular, American Cruise Lines, and Raymond James. Funding for the PBS NewsHour Weekend is provided by Consumer Cellular and Cunard Cruise Line. For a complete list of funders for the PBS NewsHour and PBS NewsHour weekend, click here.
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June 5, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
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Brooks and Capehart on some Republican lawmakers’ defiance of Trump
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College graduates begin their job search in a world being transformed by AI