Key points:
Nonfarm employers lost 23,000 jobs in July, and the unemployment rate ticked down to 4.1%, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. Government lost over 50,000 jobs in July 2026, followed by Leisure & Hospitality, which lost 40,000 jobs. Prime-age labor force participation rate edged up to 83.4%.
It’s hard to find many bright spots