August jobs report shows U.S. added 162,000 jobs, blowing past forecasts
Hiring in August was more than double economists' forecast of 65,000 payroll gains.
Updated on: September 4, 2026 / 9:33 AM EDT / CBS News
U.S. employers added 162,000 jobs in August, more than double economists' forecasts and signaling a sharp acceleration from hiring in July.
Economists polled by FactSet forecast employers added 65,000 jobs in August.
The unemployment rate was 4.1% in August, unchanged from the previous month.
Hiring in August was boosted by job gains in food services and bars as well as local government education. Those sectors added 59,000 and 42,000 jobs, respectively. Payroll gains in August were more than five times the monthly average for the last 12 months, which is 31,000, according to the Labor Department.
"What a 'wow' jobs report," said Heather Long, the chief economist at the Navy Federal Credit Union, in an email. "The hiring rebound in education was expected as teachers head back to work, but it was encouraging to see the bounce back in hospitality as well, especially restaurants."