WASHINGTON (AP) Americas employers added a vigorous 272,000 jobs in May, accelerating from April and a sign that companies are still confident enough in the economy to keep hiring despite persistently high interest rates.

Last months strong job growth reflected the durability of Americas consumer-driven economy. With the nations households continuing their steady spending, many employers have had to keep hiring to meet their customer demand.

The unemployment rate edged up to a still-low 4%, from 3.9%, ending a 27-month streak of unemployment below 4%, the Labor Department said Friday. That had matched the longest such run since the late 1960s.

President Joe Biden is likely to point to Fridays jobs report as a sign of the economys robust health under his administration. The presumptive Republican nominee, Donald Trump , has focused his criticism of Bidens economic policies on the surge in inflation, which polls show still weighs heavily in voters assessment of the economy.