US Jobs Data Overview 📊

The U.S. Jobs Data, published monthly by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), is a key economic indicator that reveals the health of the labor market. The two most closely watched metrics are Nonfarm Payrolls (NFP)—tracking new jobs added in the previous month—and the Unemployment Rate.

September 2025 Snapshot:

The latest report paints a mixed picture, suggesting a labor market that’s cooling but still resilient:

Nonfarm Payrolls: Up 119,000 jobs, slightly surpassing expectations and rebounding from a revised decline in August. Job gains were strongest in health care, food services & drinking places, and social assistance.

Unemployment Rate: Rose modestly to 4.4% from 4.3% in August, above last year’s 4.1%.

Average Hourly Earnings: Increased 3.8% year-over-year, signaling continued wage growth.

Takeaways:

Revisions to prior months’ job growth indicate the labor market slowdown may be more pronounced than initially reported. These numbers are under close watch by the Federal Reserve, as they heavily influence monetary policy decisions.