U.S. Employers Added Just 22,000 Jobs in August

U.S. employers added only 22,000 jobs in August as the labor market continued to cool under uncertainty over President Donald Trump’s economic policies, Paul Wiseman reported for the Associated Press (AP).

Construction companies cut 7,000 jobs, and the federal government eliminated 15,000 positions.

The Labor Department said Friday that hiring slowed from 79,000 jobs in July. The unemployment rate rose to 4.3%, higher than expected and the highest level since 2021.

After last month’s disappointing report, an enraged Trump fired the economist in charge of compiling the data and nominated a loyalist to replace her.

Factories shed 12,000 jobs in August, the fourth straight month of manufacturing losses.

Construction companies cut 7,000 jobs, and the federal government eliminated 15,000 positions. Revisions also lowered June and July payrolls by a combined 21,000 jobs, showing employers actually cut 13,000 jobs in June—the first monthly losses since December 2020.

Meanwhile, jobless claims rose last week to the highest level since June, though they remain within a historically healthy range, the department reported Thursday.

Outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas said Wednesday that U.S.-based employers have announced more than 892,000 job cuts this year through August—already surpassing the 761,000 cuts reported for all of 2024.