August data arrive September 4 before the opening bell
The Bureau of Labor Statistics has scheduled the August 2026 Employment Situation for Friday, September 4 at 8:30 AM Eastern Time. NYSE and Nasdaq regular trading begins at 9:30 AM ET, leaving one hour between the release and the opening bell.
The previous report showed a 23,000 decline in July nonfarm payrolls and a 4.1% unemployment rate. Average hourly earnings were $37.62, up 3.2% from a year earlier, while labor-force participation was 61.4%.
A separate preliminary annual benchmark published on August 28 indicated a 79,000 downward adjustment to the March 2026 total nonfarm level, or 0.1%. BLS has not yet applied that estimate to the monthly series; the final benchmark is due with the January 2027 report in February 2027.
BLS / EMPLOYMENT SITUATION
Six months of payrolls, unemployment and revisions
Job growth has varied sharply from month to month, while the unemployment rate moved from 4.4% in February to 4.1% in July. The revision table shows why the first payroll estimate is not the final word.
Monthly nonfarm payroll change
Thousands of jobs · seasonally adjusted
- Feb
- −156K
- Mar
- +214K
- Apr
- +148K
- May
- +63K
- Jun
- +20K
- Jul
- −23K
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Unemployment rate
Household survey · seasonally adjusted
- Feb
- 4.4%
- Mar
- 4.3%
- Apr
- 4.3%
- May
- 4.3%
- Jun
- 4.2%
- Jul
- 4.1%
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
The latest payroll revisions
BLS revised both May and June lower in the July report as additional employer responses arrived and seasonal factors were recalculated.
- Month
- May 2026
- First estimate
- +129K
- Latest estimate
- +63K
- Revision
- −66K
- Month
- June 2026
- First estimate
- +57K
- Latest estimate
- +20K
- Revision
- −37K
Combined revision: −103K
Payroll changes are derived from BLS series CES0000000001; unemployment rates use series LNS14000000. June and July payroll levels are preliminary. Figures reflect the data available before the August report.
Payrolls and unemployment come from different surveys
Nonfarm payrolls, hours and earnings come from the establishment survey of employer payroll records. The unemployment rate and labor-force participation come from a separate household survey. Because the samples and definitions differ, payroll growth and unemployment can move in different directions in the same report.
Markets often interpret the report through its implications for growth, wages and Federal Reserve policy. Treasury yields, the dollar and stock-index futures can react before the cash market opens, but the direction depends on the full release, prior-month revisions and what investors had already priced in.
Official BLS sources
What to read first when the report lands
01
Payrolls and revisions
Compare the August payroll change with the revised June and July figures. A large revision can alter the trend even when the new headline looks strong or weak.
02
Unemployment and participation
Read the unemployment rate alongside labor-force participation and household employment because all three come from the household survey.
03
Wages and hours
Average hourly earnings and the average workweek help show whether labor demand is changing beyond the headline job count.
U.S. jobs report FAQ
When is the August 2026 U.S. jobs report?
BLS has scheduled it for Friday, September 4, 2026 at 8:30 AM Eastern Time. The time shown in the live panel is converted to the selected timezone.
Is the jobs report released before the stock market opens?
Yes. The 8:30 AM ET release normally arrives one hour before NYSE and Nasdaq regular trading begins at 9:30 AM ET.
Why is the August jobs report released in September?
The month in the report identifies the labor-market reference period. BLS gathers and processes the survey data before publishing it early in the following month.
Why can payrolls rise while unemployment also rises?
The figures come from different surveys. Nonfarm payrolls use employer records, while unemployment is estimated from a household survey with different coverage and definitions.
Does this page include an analyst forecast?
No. The chart shows official BLS historical data and revisions, not an analyst consensus. The August result remains unknown until BLS publishes it.