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- Last Updated: September 05, 2025
The August 2025 Jobs Report & July 2025 JOLTS: The Current U.S. Employment Situation
The much-anticipated August 2025 BLS Employment Situation Summary is out, the first report to be delivered after BLS Commissioner Erika McEntarfer was fired by President Trump.
Just 22,000 jobs were added in August (economists were forecasting 76,500), and the unemployment rate ticked up to 4.3%. The BLS also reported 7.4 million unemployed persons, a month-over-month increase.
Change in Nonfarm Payroll Employment
| May ’25 | 139K |
| June ’25 | 147K |
| July ’25 | 73K |
| August ’25 | 22K |
June 2025’s total nonfarm payroll employment figure was again revised down by 27,000 to a net loss of 13,000 – the first time we’ve seen this since December 2020. July 2025’s number, on the other hand, was revised up by 6,000 to +79,000.
Unemployment Rate
| April ’25 | 4.2% |
| May ’25 | 4.2% |
| June ’25 | 4.1% |
| July ’25 | 4.2% |
| August ’25 | 4.3% |
The latest JOLTS, released Wednesday, reported 7.2 million job openings, 5.3 million hires, and 5.3 million separations. Job openings hit a 10-month low and, for the first time since April 2021, were also lower than the last reported number of unemployed workers.
Number of Unemployed Persons
| April ’25 | 7.2M |
| May ’25 | 7.2M |
| June ’25 | 7.0M |
| July ’25 | 7.2M |
| August ’25 | 7.4M |
Here are more key points from the August 2025 jobs report and July 2025 JOLTS:
- The quits rate held yet again at 2.0% for the fourth month in a row; the hires rate also remained the same at 3.3% compared to June.
- Average hourly earnings increased by $0.10, or 0.3%, to $36.53.
- Government employment decreased by 16,000 (15,000 from the federal government specifically).
Industries hiring now include retail trade, health care and social assistance, and leisure and hospitality. Manufacturing employment continues to decline, along with professional and business services. Construction lost jobs in August as well.
Change in Employment by Industry
| Industry | May | June | July | August |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction | 4K | 15K | 2K | -7K |
| Manufacturing | -8K | -7K | -11K | -12K |
| Motor Vehicles & Parts | 0.4K | -0.5K | -2.4K | -7.3K |
| Retail Trade | -6.5K | 2.4K | 15.7K | 10.5K |
| Transportation & Warehousing | 5.8K | 7.5K | 3.6K | 3.6K |
| Utilities | 2.2K | 0.6K | -0.1K | -0.8K |
| Information | 2K | 3K | -0.2K | -5K |
| Financial Activities | 13K | 3K | 15K | -3K |
| Professional & Business Services | -18K | -7K | -14K | -17K |
| Health Care & Social Assistance | 78.3K | 58.6K | 73.3K | 46.8K |
| Leisure & Hospitality | 48K | 20K | 5K | 28K |
| Other Services | 9K | -5K | 2K | 12K |
| Government | -1K | 73K | -10K | -16K |
“While job growth has slowed, employers also haven’t been laying people off in large numbers. For those who do find themselves without a job, however, finding another is proving more difficult,” said Lydia DePillis of the New York Times.
So far today, President Trump’s reaction to the BLS data has been a post on his Truth Social platform stating, “Jerome ‘Too Late’ Powell should have lowered rates long ago. As usual, he’s ‘Too Late!’”
In times like these, iHire can be your trusted partner in growing your business with the right talent or taking the next step in your career. Explore our hiring tools and jobs database today to get started.
Originally Published: September 05, 2025
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