U.S. jobs report that just dropped.
The August 2026 employment numbers came in stronger than most people on Wall Street were calling for. Economists were looking for something in the 50,000 to 65,000 range. We got +162,000.
I try to share more stats here than opinions. So here are the highlights:
- Nonfarm payrolls: +162,000
- Unemployment rate: 4.1% (unchanged)
- Labor force participation: 61.6% (+0.2)
- Private payrolls: +127,000
- Government: +35,000
- Average hourly earnings: $37.75 (+10 cents / +0.3% month; +3.1% year)
Where the jobs showed up:
- Food services and drinking places +59,000
- Local government education +42,000
- Manufacturing +16,000
July got revised the right direction too — from a first print of −23,000 to a gain of +21,000. The three-month average is now +71,000. The twelve-month average is still only +31,000. So this was a good month. It was not a miracle month.
Two categories did a lot of the heavy lifting. Restaurants and bars, and local government education. Information lost jobs. That’s worth knowing if you hire in tech.
What does this mean for the people I work with?
A 4.1% unemployment rate with participation ticking up is still a market where good people have options. If your company is hiring, you cannot sit on a search. The best candidates are working. They always are. That’s why we pick up the phone.
If you are looking, this is not a market where you wait for a perfect posting to find you. Network. Apply. Call people who already know your work.
Hiring? We can help.
Call us at 800-786-1099 or email info@josephmichaels.com.
Job seekers apply online first at JosephMichaels.com.
On a personal note, moments like these remind me why I love this business after 40 years in recruiting (35 of them right here at Joseph Michaels International). I have no plans to slow down — I’m as energized as ever and committed to delivering the same level of excellence our clients have trusted for decades.
Thank you again for your continued partnership. In a market like this, the opportunities ahead are still very real, and I look forward to helping you seize them.
Best regards,
Joe
Joe Pelayo, C.P.C.
Managing Partner
Joseph Michaels International
13355 Noel Road Suite 1360
Dallas TX 75240
1-800-786-1099
www.josephmichaels.com
“One of the Top 75 Recruiters in the United States.” — Recruiter Life Magazine.
Bringing together great talent and growing companies in the USA and around the world for over three decades.