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US employers added 162,000 jobs in August, exceeding forecasts

The unemployment rate held steady at 4.1% as strong hiring in service and blue-collar sectors outweighed weaknesses in white-collar industries.

Updated Sep 4, 2026 · 20:19 UTC8 reports

The short version

  • The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported 162,000 nonfarm payroll jobs added in August, roughly triple consensus forecasts.
  • Job growth was concentrated in leisure and hospitality, local government education, construction, and healthcare, while white-collar fields such as the information sector saw contractions.
  • The unemployment rate remained flat at 4.1%, and previous payroll figures for June and July were revised upward.
  • The robust labor data could increase pressure on the Federal Reserve regarding interest rates ahead of upcoming inflation reports and its mid-September policy meeting.

Key facts

  • The U.S. economy added 162,000 jobs in August, well ahead of economist forecasts ranging between 53,000 and 65,000.[Business Insider · CBS News · The Hill]
  • The national unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.1% in August, while the labor force participation rate ticked up to 61.6%.[CBS News · The Hill]
  • Hiring increases were led by food services and drinking places, which added 59,000 jobs, and local government education, which grew by 42,000 positions.[CBS News · The Hill]
  • Construction payrolls grew by 22,000 roles and healthcare and social assistance added 28,400 positions, while the information sector continued to experience net job losses.[Business Insider]
  • The Bureau of Labor Statistics revised previous job numbers upward, showing 21,000 jobs added in July instead of an initially reported contraction.[CBS News · The Hill]
  • Market pricing via the CME FedWatch tool indicated roughly even odds between an interest rate pause and a 25-basis-point increase at the Federal Reserve's September 16 meeting.[ABC News · The Hill]

What remains uncertain

  • How the Federal Reserve will vote on interest rates at its September 16 meeting remains uncertain, with policymakers stating the upcoming Consumer Price Index release on September 11 will heavily influence the decision.[CBS News · The Hill]
  • Labor economists offered differing views on the extent to which artificial intelligence and the expiration of Temporary Protected Status for around 350,000 Haitians impacted sectoral shifts and overall hiring.[Business Insider · NBC News]

Sources

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.