Employment Indicator
Nonfarm Payrolls (Monthly Change)
Updated 2026-04-04 · Monthly · Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics · Next release: 2026-05-02
Historical Trend
| Date | Value |
|---|---|
| 2026-03 | 228K |
| 2026-02 | 117K |
| 2026-01 | 143K |
| 2025-12 | 256K |
| 2025-11 | 212K |
| 2025-10 | 12K |
| 2025-09 | 254K |
| 2025-08 | 159K |
| 2025-07 | 89K |
What This Means for Business
The economy added 228,000 jobs in March, a strong rebound from February's 117,000. Economists generally consider 150,000+ jobs per month as healthy growth. For executives, strong payroll numbers confirm consumer spending capacity and may signal the Fed will maintain or raise interest rates. Sector breakdowns reveal which industries are expanding — critical for workforce planning and market sizing.
About Jobs Added
Nonfarm payrolls measure the net change in employment across all sectors except farming. It is the most closely watched indicator of labor market momentum and is released on the first Friday of each month.
Methodology
The BLS surveys approximately 119,000 businesses and government agencies representing roughly 629,000 worksites (Current Employment Statistics survey). The payroll figure counts the number of positions, not people — so one person with two jobs counts twice. Data is seasonally adjusted and frequently revised in subsequent months.
Related Indicators
Frequently Asked Questions
How many jobs per month does the economy need to keep up with population growth?
The U.S. economy needs to create approximately 100,000 to 150,000 jobs per month to keep pace with working-age population growth. Consistently adding more than 200,000 jobs indicates a strengthening labor market, while below 100,000 suggests cooling.
Why do nonfarm payroll numbers get revised?
Initial payroll estimates are based on incomplete survey data — only about 60% of sampled businesses respond by the first release. As more responses come in over the following two months, the BLS revises the numbers. Revisions can sometimes be significant, occasionally changing the narrative about labor market strength.