September 2026_________________________
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The BLS Establishment Job Report with data released September 4, 2026.
Commentary From This Month’s Establishment Jobs Press Report
A LITTLE BETTER AMONG MORE GYRATIONS
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) published its September report for jobs in August. The Household Survey for August shows the adult civilian population increased by 133 thousand, a little more than recent months, but still low. However, the labor force increased by 683 thousand, as did the employed, up 569 thousand, and the unemployed, also up 115 thousand. Those not in the labor force declined 551 thousand. The increase in the unemployed was large enough to offset the increase in the employed to hold the unemployment rate at 4.1 percent. The labor force participation rate increased .2 percent to 61.6 percent, still a low level but an improvement.
The seasonally adjusted total of establishment
employment was up 162 thousand for August. The increase was 86 thousand more
jobs in the private service sector combined with an increase of 41 thousand
jobs from goods production. The total of 127 thousand new jobs in the private
sector combined with a(n) increase of 35 thousand government service jobs
accounts for the total change.
Goods production had 41 thousand new jobs with more
jobs in all three subsectors. Natural resources increased 3 thousand jobs; construction
added 21.1 thousand jobs. Specialty trade contractors added 11.2 thousand jobs.
Construction of buildings added another 5.5 thousand jobs. Heavy and civil
engineering construction added 4.4 thousand jobs. Manufacturing had an increase
of 16 thousand jobs with 15 thousand more durable goods jobs and a thousand new
jobs in non-durable goods production. Among durable goods, fabricated metal
products and machinery added 11.8 thousand new jobs. Non-durable goods
production did poorly where chemical manufacturing added 3 thousand jobs, among
other small job gains and losses.
Government service employment increased 35 thousand
jobs, after last month’s bigger decrease. The federal government dropped 5
thousand jobs. State government jobs were down 10 thousand but local government
was up 50 thousand jobs. State and local government excluding education added a
net of 7.1 thousand jobs: local government up 8.2 thousand, state government
off .9 thousand jobs. State public education was off 8.7 thousand jobs while
local government education added by 41.9 thousand jobs, a second month of big
job increases in local government education. Private sector education added 1.1
thousand jobs for a net education job gain of 34.3 thousand jobs.
Leisure and hospitality took first place among service
sectors with 62 thousand new jobs that follows last month’s big decrease. The
arts, entertainment and recreation sub sector lost 6.3 thousand jobs, a smaller
loss than last month. The amusement, gambling and recreation subsector was down
4.4 thousand of the jobs. Accommodation and food services made up the losses,
adding 67.8 thousand jobs. Restaurants had 59.2 thousand of the jobs, an
unusually big increase coming after last month’s job losses.
Health care had a modest 28 thousand new jobs. Three
of the four health care subsectors added jobs with ambulatory care adding 7.1
thousand jobs; hospitals added another 7.6 thousand jobs. Nursing and
residential care was down 1.8 thousand jobs. Social assistance services added a
net of 15.5 thousand jobs with 12.8 thousand of the new jobs in individual and
family services and another decreasing month for jobs in child care services,
down 2.3 thousand jobs. The growth rate for health care was up from last month
to 1.43 percent, well below the average of 2.26 percent per month of the last
15 years.
Professional and business services were up a net of 10
thousand jobs, a little down from last month. The professional and technical
service sub sector was up a net 5.0 thousand jobs; management of companies went
up 600 jobs. The third sub sector, administrative and support services
including waste management, added 4.4 thousand jobs.
Among professional and technical services management
scientific and technical consulting added 4.8 thousand jobs; architecture and
engineering services added 2.2 thousand jobs. Computer systems and design
services lost 900 jobs, among other small gains and losses. Among
administrative support services, employment services added 9.2 thousand jobs while
investigation and security services lost 3.6 thousand jobs among other small gains
and losses.
Trade, transportation and utilities added a net 16
thousand jobs with wholesale trade up 7.8 thousand jobs but retail trade down 1.4
thousand jobs. Transportation had 5.0 thousand jobs but with the couriers and
messengers and transportation and storage subsectors posting job losses 5.6
thousand jobs. Truck and transit jobs had the new jobs, up 8.5 thousand jobs
among other smaller gains and losses.
Information services had an unusually large job loss
of 23 thousand jobs with all sub sectors losing jobs after last month’s large
losses. Computing, data processing and web hosting had the biggest job losses
with a sharp decline of 7.7 thousand jobs. The publishing industry lost another 6.7 thousand
jobs.
Finance and real
estate lost 11 thousand jobs in yet another month of job losses. Finance and
insurance lost 7.4 thousand of the jobs where insurance carriers lost 6.3
thousand but no finance and banking sub sectors did well on jobs. Real estate was
down as well, off 3.2 thousand jobs and with modest job losses in rental and
leasing services, down 300 jobs.
The other services
category had a net of 3.3 thousand more jobs, down from last month. This month
personal and laundry services added 9.5 thousand while repair and maintenance
services was down 3.5 thousand, and there were further declines of 2.7 thousand
jobs at non-profit associations.
The economy added a total of 162 thousand jobs for August. Establishment employment in August was reported as 159.075 million with an annual growth rate of +1.22 percent. Again this month, job totals gyrate up and down with health care showing a low job increase, less than a quarter of the jobs it should have, professional and business services doing poorly and information services and finance both with sharp job declines. The big job increases in August are for local government, restaurants and accommodations, not jobs to build an economy with self-supporting work. This month’s job total is 603 thousand above August a year ago and 1.318 million jobs above August two years ago. The 603 thousand is better than last month but still only about half of what it needs to be.
August Details
Jobs
Total Non-Farm Establishment Jobs up 162,000 to 159,075,000
Total Private Jobs up 127,000 to 135,752,000
Total Government Employment up 35,000 to 23,323,000 Note
Civilian Non-Institutional Population up 133 thousand to 275,415,000
Civilian Labor Force up 683 thousand to 169,777,000
Employed
up 569 thousand to 162,746,000
Employed Men up 359 thousand to 85,337,000
Employed Women up 210 thousand to 77,409,000
Unemployed up 115 thousand to 7,031,000
Not in the Labor Force down 551 thousand to 105,638,000
Unemployment Rate stayed the same at 4.1% or 7,031/169,777
Labor Force Participation Rate increased .2 percent to 61.6%, or 169,777/275,415
Summaries by Industry
Non Farm
Total +162
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported Non-Farm employment for establishments increased from July by 162 thousand jobs for a(n) August total of 159.075 million. (Note 1 below) An increase of 162 thousand each month for the next 12 months represents an annual growth rate of 1.22% The annual growth rate from a year ago beginning August 2025 was +.38%; the average annual growth rate from 5 years ago beginning August 2021 was +1.60%; from 15 years ago beginning August 2011 it was +1.24%. America needs growth around 1.5 percent a year to keep itself employed.
Sector breakdown for 12 Sectors in 000’s of jobs
1. Natural
Resources +3
Natural Resources jobs including logging and mining increased 3 thousand from July with 609 thousand jobs in August. An increase of 3 thousand jobs each month for the next 12 months would be an annual growth rate of +5.94 percent. Natural resource jobs were up 2 thousand from a year ago. Jobs in 2000 averaged around 603 thousand with little prospect for growth. This is the smallest of 12 major sectors of the economy with .4 percent of establishment jobs.
2.
Construction +22
Construction jobs were up 22 thousand from July with 8.359 million jobs in August. An increase of 22 thousand jobs each month for the next 12 months would be an annual growth rate of +3.17 percent. Construction jobs are up 120 thousand for the 12 months just ended. The growth rate for the last 15 years is 2.77%. Construction jobs rank 9th among the 12 sectors with 5.3 percent of non-farm employment.
3.
Manufacturing +16
Manufacturing jobs were up 16 thousand from July with 12.638 million jobs in August. An increase of 16 thousand jobs each month for the next 12 months would be an annual growth rate of +1.52 percent. Manufacturing jobs were up for the last 12 months by 23 thousand. The growth rate for the last 15 years is +.49%. Manufacturing ranks 6th among 12 major sectors in the economy with 7.9 percent of establishment jobs.
4. Trade,
Transportation & Utility +16
Trade, both wholesale and retail, transportation and utility employment were up 16 thousand jobs from July with 28.778 million jobs in August. An increase of 16 thousand jobs each month for the next 12 months would be an annual growth rate of +.67 percent. Jobs are up by 35 thousand for last 12 months. Growth rates for the last 15 years are +.93 percent. Jobs in these sectors rank first as the biggest sectors with combined employment of 18.1 percent of total establishment employment.
5.
Information Services -23
Information Services employment was down by 23 thousand jobs from July with 2.745 million jobs in August. (Note 2 below) A decrease of 23 thousand jobs each month for the next 12 months would be an annual growth rate of -9.97 percent. Jobs are down by 117 thousand for the last 12 months. Information jobs reached 3.7 million at the end of 2000, but started dropping, reaching 3 million by 2004 but has stayed below 3.0 million for more than a decade. Information Services is a small sector ranking 11th of 12 with 1.8 percent of establishment jobs.
6. Financial
Activities -11
Financial Activities employment was down by 11 thousand jobs from July to 9.086 million in August. (Note 3 below) (Note 2 below) A decrease of 11 thousand jobs each month for the next 12 months would be an annual growth rate of -1.45 percent. Jobs are down by 99 thousand for the last 12 months. This sector also includes real estate as well as real estate lending. The 15 year growth rate is +1.11 percent. Financial activities rank 8th of 12 with 5.8 percent of establishment jobs.
7. Business
and Professional Services +10
Business and Professional Service jobs went up 10 thousand from July to 22.527 million in August. An increase of 10 thousand each month for the next 12 months would be an annual growth rate of +.53 percent. Jobs are down 6 thousand for the last 12 months. Note 4 The annual growth rate for the last 15 years was +1.74 percent. It ranks as 2nd among the 12 sectors now. It was 2nd in 1993, when manufacturing was bigger and third rank now with 14.1 percent of establishment employment.
8. Education
including public and private +34
Education jobs were up 34 thousand jobs from July at 14.849 million in August. An increase of 34 thousand jobs each month for the next 12 months would be an annual growth rate of +2.78 percent. These include public and private education. Jobs are down 44 thousand for the last 12 months. (note 5) The 15 year growth rate equals +.66 percent. Education ranks 5th among 12 sectors with 9.4 percent of establishment jobs.
9. Health
Care +28
Health care jobs were up 28 thousand from July to 23.929 million in August. An increase of 28 thousand each month for the next 12 months would be an annual growth rate of +1.43 percent. Jobs are up 546 thousand for the last 12 months. (note 6) The health care long term 15-year growth rate has been +2.26 percent lately compared to +1.43 percent for this month’s jobs. Health care ranks 2nd of 12 with 15.0 percent of establishment jobs.
10. Leisure
and hospitality +62
Leisure and hospitality jobs were up 62 thousand from July to 17.001 million in August. (note 7) An increase of 62 thousand each month for the next 12 months would be an annual growth rate of +4.39 percent. Jobs are down 56 thousand for the last 12 months. More than 80 percent of leisure and hospitality are accommodations and restaurants assuring that most of the new jobs are in restaurants. Leisure and hospitality ranks 4th of 12 with 10.7 percent of establishment jobs. It moved up to 7th from 4th in the pandemic decline.
11. Other +3
Other Service jobs, which include repair, maintenance, personal services and non-profit organizations were up 3 thousand from July to 6.035 million in August. An increase of 3 thousand each month for the next 12 months would be an annual growth rate of +.60 percent. Jobs are up 27 thousand for the last 12 months. (Note 8) Other services had +.80 percent growth for the last 15 years. These sectors rank 10th of 12 with 3.8 percent of total non-farm establishment jobs.
12.
Government, excluding education +2
Government service employment went up 2 thousand from July at 12.520 million jobs in August. An increase of 2 thousand each month for the next 12 months would be an annual growth rate of +.22 percent. Jobs are down 174 thousand for the last 12 months. (note 9) Government jobs excluding education tend to increase slowly with a 15 year growth rate of +.39 percent. Government, excluding education, ranks 7th of 12 with 7.9 percent of total non-farm establishment jobs.
Prices and inflation measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for all Urban Consumers was up by a monthly average of 2.9 percent for 2025.
The CPI September report for the 12 months ending with August shows the
CPI for All
Items was up 3.4%
CPI for Food
and Beverages was up 2.6%
CPI for
Housing was up 3.1%
CPI for
Apparel was up 3.6%
CPI for
Transportation including gasoline was up 6.2%
CPI for
Medical Care was up 1.6%
CPI for
Recreation was up 2.7%
CPI for
Education was up 3.3%
CPI for
Communication was up 1.1%
Sector Notes__________________________
(1) The total cited above is non-farm establishment employment that counts jobs and not people. If one person has two jobs then two jobs are counted. It excludes agricultural employment and the self employed. Out of a total of people employed agricultural employment typically has about 1.5 percent, the self employed about 6.8 percent, the rest make up wage and salary employment. Jobs and people employed are close to the same, but not identical numbers because jobs are not the same as people employed: some hold two jobs. Remember all these totals are jobs. back
(2) Information Services is part of the new North American Industry Classification System(NAICS). It includes firms or establishments in publishing, motion picture & sound recording, broadcasting, Internet publishing and broadcasting, telecommunications, ISPs, web search portals, data processing, libraries, archives and a few others.back
(3) Financial Activities includes deposit and non-deposit credit firms, most of which are still known as banks, savings and loan and credit unions, but also real estate firms and general and commercial rental and leasing.back
(4) Business and Professional services includes the professional areas such as legal services, architecture, engineering, computing, advertising and supporting services including office services, facilities support, services to buildings, security services, employment agencies and so on.back
(5) Education includes private and public education. Therefore education job totals include public schools and colleges as well as private schools and colleges. back
(6) Health care includes ambulatory care, private hospitals, nursing and residential care, and social services including child care. back
(7) Leisure and hospitality has establishment with arts, entertainment and recreation which has performing arts, spectator sports, gambling, fitness centers and others, which are the leisure part. The hospitality part has accommodations, motels, hotels, RV parks, and full service and fast food restaurants. back
(8) Other is a smorgasbord of repair and maintenance services, especially car repair, personal services and non-profit services of organizations like foundations, social advocacy and civic groups, and business, professional, labor unions, political groups and political parties. back
(9) Government job totals include federal, state, and local government administrative work but without education jobs. back
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Notes
Jobs are not the same as employment because jobs are counted once but one person could have two jobs adding one to employment but two to jobs. Also the employment numbers include agricultural workers, the self employed, unpaid family workers, household workers and those on unpaid leave. Jobs are establishment jobs and non-other. back
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