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US employers unexpectedly cut 92,000 jobs in February, unemployment slightly higher at 4.4%

By
Updated  March 6, 2026 9:21am EST
Consumer
FOX 5 Atlanta
article

Construction workers stand on scaffolding as they work on a new house in Monterey Park, California, on September 17, 2025. (Photo by Frederic J. BROWN / AFP) (Photo by FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images)

The Brief

    • The February jobs report shows U.S. employers cut 92,000 jobs, well below the expectations of economists.
    • The unemployment rate was 4.4%, slightly higher than economists' expectations of 4.3%.
    • Revisions for the prior two months show the December report revised down by 65,000 jobs from a gain of 48,000 to a loss of 17,000, and January's report revised down by 4,000 from a gain of 130,000 to 126,000.

The Labor Department's Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) jobs report released Friday shows American employers unexpectedly cut 92,000 jobs last month, a sign that the labor market remains under strain. The unemployment rate rose to 4.4%.

Revisions were made to the payroll numbers for the prior two months, with December's report revised down by 65,000 jobs from a gain of 48,000 to a loss of 17,000, and January's report revised down by 4,000 from a gain of 130,000 to 126,000.

Taken together, employment in December and January was 69,000 jobs lower than previously reported.

Manufacturing jobs lost

The report shows the manufacturing sector lost 12,000 jobs in February, below the expectations of economists who predicted a gain of 3,000 jobs.

Financial sector employment down

The financial sector continued to lose jobs.  The report shows 22,000 jobs lost in January and the sector is 49,000 jobs off its recent peak in May 2025. Within the sector, insurance carriers and related activities lost 11,000 jobs over the month.

Health care jobs decline

Healthcare jobs declined by 28,000 jobs in February following an increase of 77,000 jobs for the sector in January. Physicians' offices lost 37,000 jobs in February, primarily due to strike activity, while hospitals added 12,000 jobs. Over the last 12 months, healthcare averaged a gain of 36,000 jobs per month.

Construction employment down in February

The report shows construction companies cut 11,000 jobs last month, which likely reflects the frigid winter weather.

Government employment declines

Government employment contracted by 6,000 jobs in February. Job losses by the federal government (-10,000) and local governments (-1,000) were partially offset by job gains among state governments (+5,000). Federal government employment is down 330,000 jobs, or 11%, from its October 2024 peak. 
 

The Source: Information in this article was sourced from the US Department of Labor, FOX Business, and The Associated Press.  This story was reported from Orlando.

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