Futures were indicating a modestly negative open for the market ahead of the jobs report, with the negativity increasing after the weaker-than-expected BLS non-farm payroll numbers. Hard to see this initial reaction remaining in place throughout today’s session as the jobs report isn’t all bad, with the report’s internals showing positive momentum in a couple of key areas like wages and the workweek. The ‘headline’ tally came in at 160K vs. estimates of 205K and March’s 208K (revised down from 215K). The unemployment rate remained unchanged 5%, with the labor force participation rate ticking down 62.8% from 63% the month before. Revisions were modest but negative, with net revisions for the prior two months of -19K. In other key pieces of the report, the average workweek ticked up, while average hourly earnings maintained the positive momentum from the month before. Average hourly earnings increased +0.3% from prior month’s level, a +2.5% year-over-year gain. The ‘headline’ miss notwithstanding, I think this isn’t way off the labor market’s recent trend line, with steady job gains month after month even in the face of erratic economic data from other parts of the economy. The latest example of this is that while Q1 GDP growth was barely in positive territory, the labor market has held its ground. With the unemployment rate holding steady, wages growing nicely and even the workweek finally starting to tick up, it is hard to see the Fed seeing this report as a sign of weakness in the labor market. My sense is that they will have to raise rates in June and then after the November elections in the December meeting. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research