Overview
- The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported November unemployment at 4.6% with payrolls up 64,000 after a revised loss of 105,000 the prior month.
- Trump argued the increase stemmed from reductions in the federal workforce and claimed he could push the rate to 2% by hiring into government.
- He criticized coverage as "Fake News" and cited a 4.5% figure, though the latest official rate is 4.6%.
- Recent BLS updates revised earlier months lower, including August at minus 26,000 and September at plus 108,000, highlighting volatile reports.
- Coverage cited an analysis estimating about 271,000 fewer federal employees since January under a cost-cutting task force, as some experts warn of a cooling economy.