The trend over time.
The latest available read: Nonfarm Payroll Change is at 29 as of September 2026. Source: FRED · PAYEMS. CSV and PNG downloads cover the selected date range.
What Nonfarm Payroll Change measures.
The month-over-month change in total nonfarm payroll employment, in thousands of jobs, from the BLS establishment survey of employers. It is computed here as the difference between consecutive monthly levels.
The first estimate is revised in the following two months, and revisions can be large, so a single print says less than the three-month average. The number of jobs needed to keep unemployment stable depends on how fast the labor force is growing, so a 'good' print changes over time.
Why it matters.
A healthy job market keeps your paycheck safe and supports home prices and loan approvals. When hiring swings wildly like this, it hints at employer uncertainty, which could eventually slow wage growth and make employers more cautious about raises.
Where it fits.
Nonfarm Payroll Change is covered on the Jobs & Labor page.