U.S. Economy Loses 23,000 Jobs in July, Unemployment Rate Falls to 4.1%
The U.S. economy lost 23,000 jobs in July 2026, contrary to economists' expectations of an 80,000 job gain. The unemployment rate fell to 4.1%, partly due to a decrease in labor force participation. The leisure and hospitality sector saw a significant drop of 40,000 jobs, while local government positions fell by 57,000. Retailers also reduced their workforce. Despite the job losses, sectors like healthcare and construction continued to grow. Average hourly earnings increased by 3.2% year-over-year, which may not keep pace with inflation.