Overview

• Nonfarm payrolls increased by 22,000 in August, far below the roughly 75,000 economists expected, and prior months were revised down by a net 21,000.
• The public sector shed 16,000 jobs while the private sector added 38,000, pointing to government cuts as a key drag on the headline figure.
• ADP’s separate measure showed private employers added 54,000 jobs in August, reinforcing signs of cooling hiring.
• President Trump removed BLS director Erika McEntarfer over allegations of politically motivated data manipulation and nominated E.J. Antoni, who has not taken office.
• Media reports say Antoni faces criticism over past sexist and conspiratorial remarks, and economists now judge a quarter-point Fed cut as more likely despite lingering inflation pressures.