Editor’s Note: This article has been updated with new information.
The U.S. economy lost 92,000 nonfarm payrolls in February 2026, according to data released Friday by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The figure marked a sharp slowdown from January’s downwardly revised 126,000 job gains and came well below economists’ expectations of 59,000.
The unemployment rate surprisingly ticked up from 4.3% to 4.4%, above forecasts of 4.3%.
Meanwhile, average hourly earnings rose 0.4% month-over-month, matching January’s pace and topping consensus estimates of 0.3%.
Employment in information and federal government continued to trend down.
Why US Non Farm Payrolls Fell In February
The February payroll decline largely reflects sector-specific disruptions and continued weakness in government and information-sector employment, rather than broad-based layoffs across the economy.
Health care employment dropped by 28,000 jobs, driven primarily by strike activity …
