Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
The United States added 162,000 jobs in August, nearly three times what economists had expected, marking the second-largest monthly gain of President Trump's second term. Over one million private-sector jobs have been created during this period, while federal employment is at a record low share, according to a White House statement.
Manufacturing employment rose by 16,000 jobs last month, the strongest monthly increase in three years. This contributes to a total of 58,000 manufacturing jobs added so far this year, driven by demand in pharmaceuticals, defense production, data center construction, and semiconductor manufacturing.
The construction industry added 22,000 jobs in August, with factory construction jobs increasing by nearly 100,000 during President Trump’s second term as more companies move manufacturing domestically.
Labor force participation improved at its strongest rate in almost a year. Unemployment remained low among college graduates at 2.7%, and black unemployment dropped for the second consecutive month. Average weekly earnings in the private sector rose 3.7% year-over-year.
National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett attributed these gains to tariffs encouraging onshore activity and investment incentives fueling construction and manufacturing jobs. Council of Economic Advisers Chair Chris Phelan confirmed that growth in manufacturing and non-residential construction is evident in both capital expenditure data and employment figures. Economists from Navy Federal Credit Union and Fitch Ratings described the report as highly positive.