By Tom Burnett CFA
On September 5, 2025, the Bureau of Labor Statistics issued its Employment Report for August. Total nonfarm payrolls rose by 22,000 for the month. Total employment is now little changed from April. The unemployment rate was little changed at 4.3% with 7.4 million job seekers, as many as the latest Job Openings figure of 7.4 million (JOLTS Report Sept. 3, 2025).
Manufacturing employment rose by 12,000 in the month, but is lower by 72,000 for the year.
Hourly wages for nonfarm workers rose $0.10 to $36.53, up 3.7% from a year ago.
Revisions from prior reports totaled a net decline of 21,000.
The next Employment Report will be issued on October 3, 2025.
Tom Burnett CFA is Director of Research