The Labor Brief | May 2026

In this episode of The Labor Brief, hosts Ellen Zentner and Julia Coronado unpack the April employment report and what it reveals about the evolving state of the U.S. labor market. They explore the surprisingly broad-based hiring gains, the divergence between payroll and household survey data, and why economists are paying close attention to potential revisions and labor force participation trends.The conversation also dives into the growing challenges facing economic measurement, including recent Bureau of Labor Statistics efforts to address missing data and methodological questions raised during the government shutdown. Ellen and Julia discuss how economists are interpreting these signals amid ongoing geopolitical uncertainty, rising energy costs, and concerns about consumer purchasing power.Plus, they examine the widening divide in economic sentiment across income groups, why inflation is hitting households differently, and what current wage growth trends could mean for hiring and spending in the months ahead.Listen for a thoughtful discussion on the data behind today’s labor market—and the risks and resilience shaping the economic outlook.NABE is the premier professional association for business economists and others who use economics in the workplace. Since 1959, NABE has attracted the most prominent figures in economics, business, and academia to its membership with highly-regarded conferences, educational and career development offerings, industry surveys, and its unrivaled networking opportunities. Past presidents of NABE include former Chairman of the Board of Governors for the Federal Reserve System, Alan Greenspan, several former Federal Reserve Governors, and other senior business leaders.