According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, total nonfarm payroll employment decreased by 92,000 in February, while the unemployment rate remained little changed at 4.4%. Employment declined notably in health care, reflecting strike activity, and continued to trend downward in the information sector and federal government. These figures are derived from the two monthly BLS surveys: the household survey, which assesses labour force status and unemployment by demographic characteristics, and the establishment survey, which measures nonfarm employment, hours, and earnings across industries.

The BLS noted that January and February household survey estimates incorporated updated population controls, reflecting the agency’s annual methodological adjustments. Such updates ensure that demographic benchmarks used in estimating labour force measures remain accurate and aligned with the latest population data.

Household Survey Data

In February, the unemployment rate held at 4.4%, with 7.6 million individuals unemployed, showing little variation from the previous month. These levels have changed little in recent months, suggesting a generally stable labour market despite pockets of sector‑specific weakness. Unemployment rates across major demographic groups also showed minimal movement, with adult men at 4.0%, adult women at 4.1%, teenagers at 14.9%, Whites at 3.7%, Blacks at 7.7%, Asians at 4.8%, and Hispanics at 5.2%.

The number of people unemployed for 27 weeks or more stood at 1.9 million, essentially unchanged from January but higher than the 1.5 million recorded a year earlier. Long‑term unemployed individuals represented 25.3% of all unemployed persons in February, highlighting ongoing challenges for those facing extended joblessness, even as near‑term labor market conditions remain relatively steady.

Broader labour force engagement also remained stable. The labour force participation rate held at 62.0%, while the employment–population ratio remained at 59.3%, with both measures showing little month‑to‑month fluctuation. These indicators suggest a labour market that, while uneven in certain sectors, maintains consistent participation levels overall.

Establishment Survey Data

Nonfarm payroll employment declined by 92,000 in February, following a modest gain in January. The overall labour market showed little net change over recent months. Health care employment fell by 28,000—mainly due to strike activity that caused a 37,000‑job loss in physicians’ offices—though hospitals added 12,000 jobs. Over the past year, the health care sector had been one of the strongest contributors, averaging monthly gains of 36,000.

Several industries continued downward trends. Information employment fell by 11,000 in February and had been losing about 5,000 jobs per month over the prior year. Federal government employment also declined by 10,000 and is down 330,000, or 11%, from its peak in October 2024. Transportation and warehousing was little changed overall (-11,000), with losses in couriers offset by gains in air transportation; the sector has fallen by 157,000 jobs since February 2025.

Gains in social assistance (+9,000), particularly in individual and family services, provided some offset, but most major industries—including construction, manufacturing, retail, financial activities, and leisure and hospitality—showed minimal movement in February. Wage growth continued, with average hourly earnings up 0.4% to $37.32, and 3.8% higher than a year earlier. Production and nonsupervisory workers saw a smaller monthly increase of 0.3%.

The average workweek was unchanged at 34.3 hours, with manufacturing hours edging slightly lower. Meanwhile, revisions to prior months lowered December and January employment figures by a combined 69,000, reflecting updated survey data and revised seasonal adjustments.

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