Employers in the United States added 266,000 jobs last month, which is sharply lower than in March and a sign that some businesses are struggling to find enough workers as the economic recovery strengthens.

With viral cases declining and states and localities easing restrictions, businesses have added jobs for four straight months, the Labor Department said early Friday. The unemployment rate ticked up to 6.1% from 6% in March.

China’s trade with the U.S. and the rest of the world surged by double digits in April as consumer demand recovered, but growth appeared to be slowing.

Global exports rose 32.3% over a year ago to $263.9 billion, in line with March but down from the explosive 60.6% rise in the first two months of 2021, customs data showed Friday. Imports increased 43.1% to $221.1 billion, accelerating from March’s 38.1% expansion.

China’s trade gains look especially dramatic due to comparison with a year ago, when global economies shut down to fight the coronavirus.

Forecasters say growth will flatten out once distortion and seasonal fluctuations are taken into account.

According to Xcel energy, a third-party contractor that was doing excavation work Thursday afternoon struck a gas line near the Marshall Stop gas station on Cleveland and Marshall avenues, causing a gas leak and outage for the neighborhood.

The St. Paul Fire Department, St. Paul Police Department and Xcel energy crews responded and closed surrounding roadways while they worked to fix it.

Josie Morss can be reached at josie.morss@stthomas.edu.