Job growth exceeded expectations in April, with nonfarm payrolls increasing by 253,000, beating estimates of 180,000. The unemployment rate was 3.4 percent and wages rose 0.5 percent higher than the expected 0.3 percent. Professional and business services saw the highest job gains, followed by health care, leisure and hospitality, and social assistance. Despite banking industry troubles, jobs in finance increased by 23,000, and government hiring rose by 23,000.