The United States added 162,000 nonfarm payroll jobs in August 2026, while the unemployment rate remained at 4.1%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics report released September 4.
The headline was stronger than the average monthly gain over the previous year, but the details show an uneven labour market: restaurants and local-government education added jobs, while information-sector employment fell.
Key numbers
- Nonfarm payrolls: up 162,000
- Unemployment rate: 4.1%, unchanged
- Unemployed people: about 7 million
- Average hourly earnings: up 0.3% in August and 3.1% over 12 months
- Labour-force participation rate: 61.6%
- Average private-sector workweek: 34.4 hours
June and July payroll estimates were revised upward by a combined 55,000 jobs.
Where jobs were added
Food services and drinking places added 59,000 positions, well above their recent monthly average. Local-government education added 42,000, largely offsetting a previous decline.
Manufacturing continued an upward trend with 16,000 additional jobs, while health care added 13,000 at a slower pace than its prior-year average.
Where jobs were lost
Information employment fell by 23,000. The losses included computing infrastructure and data-processing businesses, publishing, broadcasting and content providers.
That matters because the information category captures parts of the technology and media economy where AI investment is rising even as some employers reduce headcount.
What it means for the Federal Reserve
One jobs report does not determine an interest-rate decision. Policymakers will compare employment strength with inflation, wage growth and financial conditions.
The combination of 162,000 payroll growth and 3.1% annual wage growth suggests the labour market is still expanding without an immediate jump in unemployment. Markets may read that as reducing pressure for rapid rate cuts, but upcoming inflation data can change the interpretation.
Next US jobs report
The BLS plans to release the September employment report on October 2 at 8:30 a.m. ET. Monthly estimates are revised as more employer responses arrive.
Read the official BLS release. For context, see our global economy outlook and more Business coverage.
