Definition
The number of jobs US employers added or cut in a month, not counting farm work. The headline number of the jobs report.
The story
Each month the government asks employers how many people were on their payroll. On Sep 4, 2026, the answer was 162,000 more jobs, almost triple the 56,000 economists expected (Reuters poll). Within minutes, markets put the odds of a September rate hike at 65%, up from 55% before the report (Reuters).
Why markets watch it
It's the number forecasts are built around, so it gets the first reaction.
IN HISTORICAL DATA
Latest Jobs reports: Fri, Oct 2, 2026 · Below
- Actual vs forecast
- +29K vs +90K
- S&P 500
- +0.7%
- Nasdaq
- +1.14%
- Gold
- Spot -0.8% to -1.1%
History, not a prediction. Every row lists its sources.
All Jobs reports →Connects to
Last seen in
We explain why it moves markets. What you do with it is your call. Commentary and education only. Not financial advice. All terms