US Job Market Rebounds as Employers Add 162,000 Jobs in August; Unemployment Holds at 4.1%

NewsData.io · United States · Sep 4, 2026

U.S. employers added 162,000 jobs in August, more than double the 65,000 forecasted by analysts, with upward revisions adding 55,000 jobs to June and July payrolls. Restaurants, construction, and manufacturing led gains, while the information sector shed 23,000 jobs — down 97,000 since January — as AI displaces workers in tech-adjacent roles. Average hourly wages rose just 3.1% year-over-year, the weakest gain since May 2021, squeezing workers amid elevated inflation. Staffing firms should note a tightening labor supply driven by immigration enforcement and boomer retirements, while employers increasingly seek tech-savvy candidates as AI reshapes hiring demand across sectors.