Economy · Indicator

Jobs +162,000

Nonfarm payrolls, August 2026 · Published 4 Sep 2026 · Verified against the issuing agency 19 Sep 2026

Payrolls rose 162,000 in August — five times the average of the prior twelve months — and the two previous months were revised UP by a combined 55,000. Unemployment held at 4.1%.

The release, in the same format we use for every indicator
Previous (July 2026, revised)	+21,000 — revised UP from −23,000
Expected	— — we could not verify a consensus figure from a source we trust, so we are not printing one
Actual (August 2026)	+162,000
Unemployment rate	4.1% — unchanged
Revisions	June revised up 11,000 (to +31,000); July revised up 44,000 (to +21,000). Combined: +55,000 higher than previously reported.
For context	BLS notes the August gain is well above the average monthly gain of 31,000 over the prior twelve months.
Why it matters	The labour market that looked flat in July did not stay flat, and July itself was not a decline after all. The Fed raised twelve days later.

The revision changed the story

US nonfarm payroll change — as first reported vs. as revised

July was published as a fall of 23,000 and revised to a gain of 21,000. August then added 162,000.

US nonfarm payroll change — as first reported vs. as revised
June (first)	20
June (revised)	31
July (first)	-23
July (revised)	21
August	162

Change in jobs, thousandsSource: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Situation, August 2026

Earlier releasesEach one preserved as published. We add a release rather than edit one.

July 2026 −23,000 revised to +21,000 · published 7 Aug 2026

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Sources

The Employment Situation — August 2026U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Sep 4, 2026 · Primary source

Wealth Signal prefers primary sources — regulators, statistical agencies and company filings. Named secondary sources are used where a primary document does not exist or is not public. Our source standards.

The economy is sending two signals at once. The Fed is listening to the louder one.

24.6%

Sources

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