The U.S. labor market added 162,000 jobs in August 2026, more than double the economist forecast of 65,000, with the unemployment rate remaining steady at 4.1 percent. The strong report prompted financial analysts and traders to reassess expectations for Federal Reserve rate hikes, with Citigroup delaying its rate-cut forecast to 2027.
U.S. nonfarm payrolls increased by 162,000 in August 2026, far exceeding forecasts of 50,000–60,000, while unemployment remained at 4.1%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics report released September 4, 2026.