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U.S. Employers Add 162,000 Jobs in August 2026, Exceeding Forecasts
Just the facts
U.S. employers added 162,000 jobs in August 2026, exceeding economists' consensus forecasts of 65,000 payroll gains. The national unemployment rate remained steady at 4.1% for the month. Hiring growth was led by the food services and drinking places sector, which added 59,000 positions, and local government education, which added 42,000 positions. Additionally, the Labor Department revised upward the employment figures for June and July 2026 to 11,000 and 21,000 jobs, respectively.
Why this is news
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics released its August 2026 nonfarm payroll report on September 4, 2026.
Sources
This summary is compiled strictly from the original reporting below.