"U.S. employers added just 22,000 jobs last month as the labor market continued to cool under uncertainty over President Donald Trump's economic policies. The Labor Department said Friday that hiring decelerated from 79,000 in July. The unemployment rate ticked up to 4.3%, also worse than expected and the highest level since 2021, the Labor Department reported Friday."
"When the department put out a disappointing jobs report a month ago, an enraged President Donald Trump responded by firing the economist in charge of compiling the numbers and nominating a loyalist to replace her. Talking to reporters Thursday night at a dinner with wealthy tech executives, Trump had seemed to shrug off whatever hiring numbers would come out Friday."
"So far in 2025, the economy has generated 85,000 new jobs a month, down from 168,000 last year and an average 400,000 a month during the hiring boom of 2021-2023 as the United States roared back from COVID-19 lockdowns. "The labor market is showing signs of cracking," said Heather Long, chief economist at Navy Federal Credit Union. "It's not a red siren alarm yet, but the signs keep growing that businesses are starting to cut workers.""
U.S. payrolls rose by 22,000 last month, a sharp slowdown from July's 79,000 and leaving the unemployment rate at 4.3%, the highest since 2021. Hiring has softened in 2025, averaging 85,000 new jobs monthly versus 168,000 last year and about 400,000 monthly during the 2021–2023 rebound. Eleven interest rate hikes by the Federal Reserve and policy uncertainty tied to President Donald Trump's trade and other actions have discouraged managerial hiring. Weekly initial unemployment claims climbed to the highest level since June, signaling rising layoff activity while still remaining within historically healthy ranges.
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