U.S. employers added 162,000 jobs in August, about triple the 53,000-56,000 forecast, and unemployment held at 4.1%

The Labor Department also revised June and July up by a combined 55,000, flipping July from a reported loss of 23,000 jobs to a gain of 21,000.

Who got the 162,000 jobs, and what the revisions changed: Economist Mike Konczal counted 158,000 of the 162,000 August jobs going to women — 98% of the gain. Platypus Economics puts the share at 93% since January 2025. Since January 2025, men have netted roughly 60,000 jobs against about 747,000 for women. Women's August unemployment rate was 3.9%; men's was 4.4%. The revisions lift average monthly job growth over the past three months to 71,000, up from 20,000 before the Labor Department reworked the June and July figures.

ContextThe Fed aims to keep inflation at 2% a year. July CPI came in at 3.4% and PCE — a second inflation gauge, the one the Fed watches most — at 3.7%, both well above that target. A strong jobs month argues for higher rates, because a tight labor market can keep prices climbing. The Sept. 15-16 decision needs a majority of the 12-member rate-setting committee; in July three members dissented in favor of hiking, the most dissents pushing the same direction since 2016. August CPI lands Sept. 11. Trump's threat to halt trade with surplus countries is aimed at Fed Chair Kevin Warsh, his own pick. Diesel hit $5.85 a gallon Friday, Sept. 4, up from $3.71 a year ago.

PBS NEWSHOUR12 sources