United States Non-Farm Payrolls
Aug 2026 · Monthly
Non-farm payrolls rose to 159,075 thousand in August from 158,913 thousand in July, the sixth consecutive monthly increase. The reading marked an all-time high for the series, which began in January 1939. Average hourly earnings stood at $37.75 in August, while the unemployment rate was 4.1%, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.
source: Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Non-farm payrolls in the United States rose to 159,075 thousand persons in August 2026, up from 158,913 thousand in July. The reading marked a new all-time high for the series, which dates back to January 1939.
| Actual | Previous | Highest | Lowest | Dates | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 159,075 | 158,913 | 159,075Aug 2026 | 29,923Jan 1939 | 1939 – 2026 | Monthly |
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About this series
Non-Farm Payrolls in United States averaged 134,304 from 1939 until 2026, reaching an all-time high of 159,075 in Aug 2026 and a record low of 29,923 in Jan 1939. The series is reported monthly with history from 1939.
Non-farm payrolls measure the total number of paid U.S. workers in any business, excluding farm employees, government employees, private household employees, and nonprofit organization employees. The indicator is reported monthly in thousands of persons, with data available from January 1939.
Source & methodology
We use primary economic sources for every country. See our methodology page for how we source and verify this data.
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