Latest job numbers cause fresh economic concern.

On Friday, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that nonfarm payroll employment increased by 22,000 in August, while the unemployment rate rose from 4.2% to 4.3%. The healthcare sector accounted for roughly 31,000 new jobs, but declining employment in the federal government, manufacturing, and professional services offset some of those gains; the BLS also revised June’s employment numbers down by 27,000 and July’s numbers up by 6,000. Separately, on Tuesday, the BLS reported that the U.S. added 911,000 fewer jobs between March 2024 and March 2025 than previously estimated, adding to concerns about the health of the job market.

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