06/08/2026
Jobs Report Surprised to the Upside
Friday’s BLS Jobs Report came in significantly stronger than expected.
Some of the key headlines:
• 172,000 jobs added vs. 85,000 expected
• Unemployment held steady at 4.3%
• March and April revisions added an additional 93,000 jobs
• Markets reacted negatively, causing rates to move higher
However, the deeper data told a more complicated story:
• Full-time jobs declined by 79,000
• Part-time jobs increased by 266,000
• Long-term unemployment reached its highest level since 2021
• Average unemployment duration also reached its highest level since 2021
The takeaway: The headline numbers appeared strong, but there are still signs of weakness developing beneath the surface.