Daily brief: September 4, 2026
One release September 4, 2026: Nonfarm payrolls rose 162,000 in August; unemployment rate unchanged at 4.1 percent. 7 figures below, each with the source it came from and whether it was found there.
Nonfarm payrolls rose 162,000 in August; unemployment rate unchanged at 4.1 percent
The Bureau of Labor Statistics said the unemployment rate was unchanged at 4.1 percent in August. Average hourly earnings of all private employees were $37.75, after $37.65 in July. The labor force participation rate was 61.6 percent, after 61.4 percent, and the employment-population ratio was 59.1 percent, after 58.9 percent. The Black or African American unemployment rate was 6.0 percent, after 6.3 percent in July. Total nonfarm payroll employment was 159.075 million, after 158.913 million in July. Government payroll employment was 23.323 million, after 23.288 million.
- Nonfarm payroll employment, level
- 159,075,000
- Unemployment rate
- 4.1%
- Average hourly earnings, all private employees
- $37.75
- Labor force participation rate
- 61.6%
- Employment-population ratio
- 59.1%
- Black or African American unemployment rate
- 6%
- Government payroll employment, level
- 23,323,000
Source: The Employment Situation — August 2026 — U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Also: Employment Situation Summary Table A. Household data, seasonally adjusted, All Employees, Total Nonfarm (PAYEMS), Unemployment Rate (UNRATE), Nonfarm Payrolls rise by 162K in August vs. 56K forecast.
all 7 figures found at the source
- found Nonfarm payroll employment, level = 159,075,000 — via FRED PAYEMS
- found Unemployment rate = 4.1% — via FRED UNRATE
- found Average hourly earnings, all private employees = $37.75 — via FRED CES0500000003
- found Labor force participation rate = 61.6% — via FRED CIVPART
- found Employment-population ratio = 59.1% — via FRED EMRATIO
- found Black or African American unemployment rate = 6% — via FRED LNS14000006
- found Government payroll employment, level = 23,323,000 — via FRED USGOVT
2 further items were researched for this day and held back: their figures could not be found at the named source by the automated pass, so they are not published here.
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