September 5, 2025
August jobs report shows 22,000 jobs added; Trump had fired BLS commissioner in August
Economy flashes recession warning as job creation collapses to 22,000
💰Economy📰Media Literacy👷Labor
The Bureau of Labor Statistics released The Employment Situation -- Aug. 2025 on Sep. 5, 2025. The report showed total nonfarm payroll employment changed little, up 22,000, and an unemployment rate of 4.3 percent.
The establishment survey showed manufacturing employment fell by 12,000 in Aug. and was down about 78,000 over the past 12 months. Health care added 31,000 jobs. Federal government employment fell by 15,000 in Aug..
BLS revised Jun. 2025 from +14,000 to -13,000 and revised Jul. 2025 from +73,000 to +79,000. The two-month revision reduced previously reported employment by 21,000. The three-month average (Jun.–Aug) is about 29,000 per month.
President 
Donald Trump ordered the firing of BLS Commissioner Erika McEntarfer on Aug. 1, 2025, following the Jul. report and revisions. His public accusations that career statisticians 'rigged' the data have been disputed by former commissioners and outside economists.
💰Economy📰Media Literacy👷Labor
Test Your Knowledge
10
Q1
America added only 22,000 jobs in August 2025. How does this compare to what economists predicted?
Q2
The jobs report data is released by a private consulting firm.
Q3
The unemployment rate rose to 4.3% in August 2025, the highest level since late 2021.
Q4
Which sector was among the few to add workers in August 2025?
Q5
How does 2025 job growth compare to 2024 for the first eight months?
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Donald Trump
President of the United States
Erika McEntarfer
Former Commissioner, Bureau of Labor Statistics
What you can do
1
civic action
Demand congressional oversight of Trump's firing of BLS Commissioner McEntarfer
President Trump fired Bureau of Labor Statistics Commissioner Erika McEntarfer on August 1, 2025, claiming she deliberately revised payroll jobs to embarrass him. In reality, the commissioner has no role in producing estimates and doesn't see data until release. The first jobs report after her firing showed only 22,000 jobs added, well below expectations of 75,000, with unemployment rising to 4.3%. This political interference threatens the independence of economic data that markets and policymakers rely on.
Hello, I am [NAME] from [CITY/STATE]. I am calling to demand congressional oversight of President Trump's firing of BLS Commissioner Erika McEntarfer. Key concerns: Trump fired McEntarfer on August 1, 2025, claiming she deliberately revised jobs data to embarrass him. The commissioner has no role in producing estimates and doesn't see data until release. The first jobs report after her firing showed only 22,000 jobs added versus expectations of 75,000. Unemployment rose to 4.3%, highest since 2021. This political interference threatens economic data independence. Questions to ask: Will the committee hold hearings on BLS independence? How will Congress prevent political interference in economic data? What protections exist for statistical agency independence? Specific request: I demand that the committee investigate the firing and ensure BLS can produce objective economic data without political pressure. Thank you for your time.
2
understanding
Monitor primary data sources
Check The Employment Situation on and the BLS release schedule to follow revisions and benchmark updates.
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