US Economy Adds 162,000 Jobs in August, Unemployment Rate Remains Steady

The US economy added 162,000 jobs in August, exceeding the average monthly gain of 31,000 over the previous year. The unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.1 per cent.

Food services and drinking places led the increase with a rise of 59,000 jobs, while local government education added 42,000 jobs. Manufacturing employment continued its upward trend, increasing by 16,000 in August and rising by 58,000 since December 2025.

The information industry was a notable drag, losing 23,000 jobs after averaging monthly losses of 8,000 over the previous year. Wage growth remained steady, with average hourly earnings for private nonfarm payroll employees rising 10 cents to $37.75 in August.