U.S. BLS
Monthly
PAYEMS
Nonfarm payrolls
MoM
+172k
▲
Total ~159.0M
2026-05-01 as of
Total employees on nonfarm payrolls. The monthly change is the centerpiece of the jobs report and one of the most market-moving U.S. indicators.
Key points
- Total nonfarm payroll employment (seasonally adjusted)
- Watch the month-over-month change (jobs added)
- A top market-moving jobs indicator for FX and rates
How to read it
Watch the monthly change (jobs added). Gains above ~100k a month suggest a solid market; declines raise recession concerns. Surprises versus consensus move FX and rates sharply. Focus on the change, not the level.
Recent trend
| Period | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-05-01 | 159,001 | +172 |
| 2026-04-01 | 158,829 | +179 |
| 2026-03-01 | 158,650 | +214 |
| 2026-02-01 | 158,436 | -156 |
| 2026-01-01 | 158,592 | +160 |
| 2025-12-01 | 158,432 | -17 |
| 2025-11-01 | 158,449 | +41 |
| 2025-10-01 | 158,408 | -140 |
| 2025-09-01 | 158,548 | +76 |
| 2025-08-01 | 158,472 | -70 |
| 2025-07-01 | 158,542 | +64 |
| 2025-06-01 | 158,478 | -20 |
FAQ
Why look at the monthly change?
The total is about 160 million, so the monthly change is what signals momentum. Markets react to the change versus expectations.
Sources (primary)
This article is an independent summary based on the official U.S. data below. Please verify the latest and exact details with the official sources.
- FRED (series page)：PAYEMS
- Source agency：U.S. BLS
- FRED last updated：2026-06-05 08:31:36-05
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