US added 162,000 jobs in August, blowing past expectations

The U.S. economy added 162,000 jobs in August, according to new data released Friday by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.1 percent. Economists had expected U.S. employers to add 53,000 jobs last month and the jobless rate to hold steady at 4.1 percent, according to The Wall Street Journal. The August jobs…

The Bureau of Labor Statistics began releasing monthly employment data in 1940 under the Current Employment Statistics program. It surveys about 145,000 businesses and government agencies each month to count nonfarm payroll jobs added or lost and to measure the unemployment rate from a separate household survey. On September 4 2026 the BLS reported that employers added 162000 jobs in August while the unemployment rate stayed at 4.1 percent. Economists polled by The Wall Street Journal had projected an addition of 53000 jobs for the month.