United States Private Nonfarm Payrolls
Aug 2026 · Monthly
Private nonfarm payrolls rose to 135,752 thousand in August, from 135,625 thousand in July. The reading marked a sixth consecutive monthly increase and a new 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
Private nonfarm payrolls in the United States rose to 135,752 thousand in August 2026 from 135,625 thousand in July 2026. The reading is the highest in the series, matching the all-time high, and compares with an all-time low of 25,935 thousand recorded in January 1939. The series spans from 1939.
| Actual | Previous | Highest | Lowest | Dates | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 135,752 | 135,625 | 135,752Aug 2026 | 25,935Jan 1939 | 1939 – 2026 | Monthly |
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About this series
Private Nonfarm Payrolls in United States averaged 112,927 from 1939 until 2026, reaching an all-time high of 135,752 in Aug 2026 and a record low of 25,935 in Jan 1939. The series is reported monthly with history from 1939.
Private nonfarm payrolls measures the number of persons employed in the private nonfarm sector of the United States, excluding agricultural workers, government employees, and private households. The monthly indicator is expressed in thousand persons and has been compiled since 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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