The Wall Street Journal

U.S. Lost 23,000 Jobs in July, While Unemployment Ticked Lower

Job losses in July and negative revisions reveal a weakening U.S. labor market

New York Post

US lost 23K jobs in July in disappointing report  though it could stall interest-rate hikes

Bureau of Labor Statistics

Employment Situation Summary

krassenstein

PeteButtigieg

RapidResponse47

joebrusuelas

The New York Times

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Consumer Price Index Summary

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) published its jobs report for July 2026 on Friday, showing that the U.S. economy shed 23,000 nonfarm payroll jobs in the month, falling well short of the 83,000 gain economists had forecast.

Guardian

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) published its jobs report for July 2026 on Friday, showing that the U.S. economy shed 23,000 nonfarm payroll jobs in the month, falling well short of the 83,000 gain economists had forecast.

Job losses were primarily in local government education, which lost 50,000 positions, and retail, which experienced a decline of 19,000 roles. Financial activities also declined by 14,000 jobs, bringing the sector's total losses to 121,000 since a peak in May 2025.

Job losses were primarily in local government education, which lost 50,000 positions, and retail, which experienced a decline of 19,000 roles. Financial activities also declined by 14,000 jobs, bringing the sector's total losses to 121,000 since a peak in May 2025.

Health care, meanwhile, added 22,000 jobs in July, continuing an upward trend, though the gain was slower than the average monthly increase of 36,000 over the prior 12 months. The private sector overall added 30,000 jobs during the month.

Health care, meanwhile, added 22,000 jobs in July, continuing an upward trend, though the gain was slower than the average monthly increase of 36,000 over the prior 12 months. The private sector overall added 30,000 jobs during the month.

In addition, the BLS revised the employment figures for May and June downwards by a combined 103,000 jobs after receiving additional reports and recalculating seasonal factors, from 129,000 and 57,000 in May and June, respectively, to 63,000 and 20,000.

In addition, the BLS revised the employment figures for May and June downwards by a combined 103,000 jobs after receiving additional reports and recalculating seasonal factors, from 129,000 and 57,000 in May and June, respectively, to 63,000 and 20,000.

The unemployment rate, on the other hand, edged down to 4.1% in July from 4.2% in June, due to more Americans exiting the labor force. Accordingly, the labor force participation rate fell to 61.4%, its lowest level since February 2021.

The unemployment rate, on the other hand, edged down to 4.1% in July from 4.2% in June, due to more Americans exiting the labor force. Accordingly, the labor force participation rate fell to 61.4%, its lowest level since February 2021.

Elsewhere, average hourly earnings from private nonfarm payroll employees rose 3.2% over the year to $37.62,&nbsp;below the most recent inflation reading of 3.5%. The average workweek, in comparison, held steady at 34.3 hours in July.

Elsewhere, average hourly earnings from private nonfarm payroll employees rose 3.2% over the year to $37.62, below the most recent inflation reading of 3.5%. The average workweek, in comparison, held steady at 34.3 hours in July.

The Wall Street Journal #

NBC #

New York Post #

Bureau of Labor Statistics #

The New York Times #

The U.S. economy shed 23,000 nonfarm payroll jobs in July 2026, falling well short of the 83,000 gain economists had forecast. Revisions to May and June figures reduced those months' combined totals by 103,000 jobs.

The U.S. economy shed 23,000 nonfarm payroll jobs in July 2026, falling well short of the 83,000 gain economists had forecast. Revisions to May and June figures reduced those months' combined totals by 103,000 jobs.

The unemployment rate edged down to 4.1% in July from 4.2% in June, as more Americans exited the labor force entirely. The labor force participation rate fell to 61.4%, its lowest level since February 2021.

The unemployment rate edged down to 4.1% in July from 4.2% in June, as more Americans exited the labor force entirely. The labor force participation rate fell to 61.4%, its lowest level since February 2021.

Job losses in July were concentrated in local government education, which shed 50,000 positions, and retail trade, which lost 19,000. The financial activities sector also declined by 14,000 jobs, bringing total losses in that sector to 121,000 since a peak in May 2025.

Job losses in July were concentrated in local government education, which shed 50,000 positions, and retail trade, which lost 19,000. The financial activities sector also declined by 14,000 jobs, bringing total losses in that sector to 121,000 since a peak in May 2025.

Health care added 22,000 jobs in July, continuing an upward trend, though the gain was slower than the average monthly increase of 36,000 over the prior 12 months. The private sector overall added 30,000 jobs during the month.

Health care added 22,000 jobs in July, continuing an upward trend, though the gain was slower than the average monthly increase of 36,000 over the prior 12 months. The private sector overall added 30,000 jobs during the month.

Average hourly earnings for private nonfarm payroll employees rose 3.2% over the year to $37.62, below the most recent inflation reading of 3.5%. The average workweek held steady at 34.3 hours in July.

Average hourly earnings for private nonfarm payroll employees rose 3.2% over the year to $37.62, below the most recent inflation reading of 3.5%. The average workweek held steady at 34.3 hours in July.

Following the July report, market odds of a Federal Reserve rate hike in September fell from above 50% to around 40%. "This is a developing story," noted one outlet, while strategists said inflation data due the following week could be the deciding factor for the Fed's next meeting.

Following the July report, market odds of a Federal Reserve rate hike in September fell from above 50% to around 40%. "This is a developing story," noted one outlet, while strategists said inflation data due the following week could be the deciding factor for the Fed's next meeting.

The July jobs report looks worse than it actually is — seasonal distortions at the BLS, World Cup timing and a drop in government payrolls dragged the headline number down artificially. Strip those out and the underlying economy is genuinely strong, with manufacturing booming, capital spending rising and real wages up nearly $4,000. This report simply doesn't reflect where the economy actually stands.

The July jobs report looks worse than it actually is — seasonal distortions at the BLS, World Cup timing and a drop in government payrolls dragged the headline number down artificially. Strip those out and the underlying economy is genuinely strong, with manufacturing booming, capital spending rising and real wages up nearly $4,000. This report simply doesn't reflect where the economy actually stands.

Joseph Brusuelas

Rapid Response 47

The U.S. economy is flat-out losing jobs, and no amount of statistical spin changes what Americans feel in their wallets every single day. The data tells the story clearly — job growth collapsed under Trump after surging under Biden, and the contrast is impossible to miss. Lost manufacturing, higher costs and now a shrinking payroll count add up to a record of economic failure.

The U.S. economy is flat-out losing jobs, and no amount of statistical spin changes what Americans feel in their wallets every single day. The data tells the story clearly — job growth collapsed under Trump after surging under Biden, and the contrast is impossible to miss. Lost manufacturing, higher costs and now a shrinking payroll count add up to a record of economic failure.

Pete Buttigieg

Brian Krassenstein

United States of America

Economic conditions & trends

The July jobs report may look disappointing on paper. In reality, however, the figures were driven by seasonal distortions, with the end of the World Cup and a decline in government payrolls artificially dragging down the headline number. Once those are stripped out, what is left is a genuinely strong economy, with manufacturing booming, rising capital spending and real wages up nearly $4,000.

The July jobs report may look disappointing on paper. In reality, however, the figures were driven by seasonal distortions, with the end of the World Cup and a decline in government payrolls artificially dragging down the headline number. Once those are stripped out, what is left is a genuinely strong economy, with manufacturing booming, rising capital spending and real wages up nearly $4,000.

The U.S. economy is losing jobs, and no amount of statistical spin by the administration changes that fact. The data tells the story clearly; job growth collapsed under Trump after surging under Biden, and the contrast is impossible to miss. Lost manufacturing, higher costs and now a shrinking payroll count add up to an abysmal record of economic failure under Trump's second term.

The U.S. economy is losing jobs, and no amount of statistical spin by the administration changes that fact. The data tells the story clearly; job growth collapsed under Trump after surging under Biden, and the contrast is impossible to miss. Lost manufacturing, higher costs and now a shrinking payroll count add up to an abysmal record of economic failure under Trump's second term.

U.S. Sheds 23K Jobs in July, Missing Forecasts

U.S. LostSheds 23,00023K Jobs in July, WhileMissing Unemployment Ticked LowerForecasts

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U.S. Sheds 23K Jobs in July, Missing Forecasts

U.S. LostSheds 23,00023K Jobs in July, WhileMissing Unemployment Ticked LowerForecasts

The Spin

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