August jobs report shows only 22,000 jobs added after BLS chief firing

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the U.S. economy added just 22,000 jobs in August 2025, a sharp deceleration from prior months. The weak report came weeks after Trump fired the BLS Commissioner in August, raising questions about the independence of federal statistical agencies. Economists noted the jobs number was far below the 150,000 monthly average needed to keep pace with labor force growth.