Key Points
- 01U.S. nonfarm payrolls rose by 162,000 in August 2026
- 02The unemployment rate held steady at 4.1% in August
- 03Information-sector employment fell by 23,000 jobs
- 04August figures reflect updated benchmarks and adjustments
August payroll growth and unemployment
U.S. nonfarm payroll employment increased by 162,000 in August 2026, indicating that employers continued to add jobs even as the pace of growth remained moderate. The unemployment rate held at 4.1%, signaling that the overall jobless share of the labor force was unchanged from the prior month.
Expectations ahead of the release had centered on a smaller increase in employment and a slightly higher unemployment rate. The published figures therefore pointed to a labor market that was somewhat firmer than anticipated, though not overheating.
Sector details: services and manufacturing gains
Job creation in August was concentrated in several key industries. Food services and drinking places added 59,000 positions, underscoring continued demand in consumer-facing hospitality businesses. Local government education employment increased by 42,000, reflecting staffing needs in school systems.
Manufacturing employment also expanded, with a gain of 16,000 jobs over the month. These increases across services, education and manufacturing contributed significantly to the overall nonfarm payroll rise.
Information sector job losses
In contrast to the broader gains, employment in the information sector declined by 23,000 in August. The drop was spread across several key components of the industry, highlighting persistent weakness in parts of the technology and media landscape.
Computing infrastructure providers, data processing, web hosting and related services collectively lost 8,000 jobs. Publishing industries shed 7,000 positions, while broadcasting and content providers reduced employment by 5,000, pointing to ongoing restructuring and cost-cutting in these segments.
Data revisions and benchmarking
The August employment report incorporated revisions tied to updated benchmark levels and seasonal adjustment factors. These technical updates are part of an annual process that aligns payroll data with more comprehensive source information, improving the accuracy of reported employment levels.
Recent benchmarking work has indicated that job growth over the prior year was somewhat weaker than earlier estimates had suggested, implying a cooler underlying trend even as August showed a solid monthly gain. Taken together, the current figures portray a labor market that is adding jobs at a measured pace, with notable strength in some service and education roles and continued pressure in information-related industries.
Key Takeaways
- 01August 2026 data depict a labor market still generating jobs, but at a moderate pace consistent with a stable 4.1% unemployment rate.
- 02Hiring strength is concentrated in services, education and manufacturing, while technology and media-linked information industries are contracting.
- 03Benchmarking and seasonal revisions temper earlier views of job growth, suggesting a cooler underlying trend despite a firm August headline gain.