July Labor Report: Employers Shed 23,000 Jobs

The U.S. economy unexpectedly lost 23,000 jobs in July, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The unemployment rate edged down to 4.1%, from 4.2% in June.

Healthcare remained a consistent stronghold in the labor market, adding 22,000 new jobs last month, although growth slowed compared with previous months.

Professional and business services gained 18,000 new jobs in July, signaling continued demand for specialized talent even as overall hiring cools.

Meanwhile, government and leisure/hospitality saw losses of 53,000 and 40,000 jobs, respectively.

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Download the July Labor Report

Source: July 2026 Monthly Jobs Report, Bureau of Labor Statistics