Non-Farm Employment Growth Rate

How many jobs is the U.S. economy adding or shedding each month?

Updated MonthlyAs of 2026-06-01High data quality

Historical Trend

Data sourced from official government APIs

What It Measures

The month-over-month and year-over-year change in total non-farm payroll employment, as measured by the Bureau of Labor Statistics Current Employment Statistics survey. Also tracks the U-3 unemployment rate and broader U-6 labor underutilization rate.

Formula

Monthly Change = Current Month Payrolls − Prior Month Payrolls (seasonally adjusted)

Why It Matters

Employment is the primary measure of economic well-being for most households. Sustained job growth correlates with rising wages, increased tax revenue, and reduced social program spending. Job losses signal economic distress and typically precede consumer spending declines.

Data Caveats

Non-farm payrolls excludes agricultural workers, private household workers, and the self-employed.
Initial estimates are subject to revision; benchmark revisions occur annually.
Seasonal adjustment can distort monthly comparisons; use YoY comparisons for trend analysis.
U-3 unemployment rate does not capture discouraged workers or involuntary part-time workers.

Drill-Down Options

By industry sector
By state
Private vs. government employment
Full-time vs. part-time
U-3 vs. U-6 unemployment rates
Labor force participation rate

Suggested Dashboard Layout

Example Visualization

Monthly bar chart of payroll gains/losses (positive/negative color coded), with overlay showing rolling 12-month average. Secondary gauges for U-3, U-6, and labor force participation rate.

Suggested Chart Types

Bar ChartLine ChartArea Chart

Inflation Trend vs. Federal Reserve Target

Is inflation converging toward the Federal Reserve's 2% long-run target?

3.1%

vs. prior month

Updated MonthlyHigh data quality