Follow along with Investopedia's live coverage of Friday's employment situation report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported an unexpected loss of 92,000 jobs in February, far below the forecast. Unemployment rose from 4.3% to 4.4%.

The U.S. economy shed jobs to start the year, as the Labor Department reported that employment decreased by 92,000 jobs in February 2026, when economists expected a gain of 59,000.

The US labor market report shows a 92k payroll drop as US-Iran tensions raise inflation risks and stall Fed rate cuts. Read more about the job market here.

Economists say estimates from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and other agencies are reliable, but they worry the quality of data is eroding.

Investors looking at the Federal Reserve after the latest jobs data got a rough answer on Friday. The labor market is getting weaker, inflation is still above the Fed’s 2% target, and officials now ...

Ryan Jenkins, pictured above on Dec. 10, 2025, is the economic development coordinator for the city of Fairview Heights, Illinois. He encountered a rocky road on the path to finding a job. In July, ...

Each morning, Jake Fishman ’25 opens his laptop to repeat the same ritual. Scrolling through Handshake, LinkedIn and Indeed, he submits countless cover letters and resumes that, according to him, ...