The US NFP report is one of the most powerful market moving indicators and traders watch it closely for a reason.
Released monthly by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), NFP reveals how many jobs were added or lost across the US economy, excluding agriculture and a few non core sectors. It represents nearly 80% of the workforce driving US GDP.
🔍 What NFP Tells the Market
NFP goes beyond a single number. Key data points include:
Net job creation or losses
Unemployment rate
Wage growth (average hourly earnings)
Labor force participation
Revisions to past data
This report is typically released on the first Friday of every month, often triggering sharp moves across crypto, forex, equities, bonds, and gold.
🏦 Why Traders & the Fed Care
Economic health check: Strong job growth signals expansion; weak data hints at slowdown
Fed policy trigger: Hot labor data can delay rate cuts, while soft numbers increase easing expectations
Volatility catalyst: “NFP Friday” is known for sudden, high-impact price swings
📊 Latest NFP Update: Labor Market Cooling
Due to the US government shutdown, October and November data were combined:
November jobs: +64K (growth stalled)
October jobs: 105K (federal workforce cuts)
Unemployment rate: 4.6% highest in over four years
Wages: Slight upward movement
Trend: Downward revisions signal increasing uncertainty
The US labor market is cooling, and markets are adjusting expectations around Federal Reserve rate cuts. As always, revisions matter as much as headlines and the next NFP report could reshape sentiment fast.
📅 Next release: January 9, 2026