An article summarized by Quartz:

The U.S. economy added 57,000 nonfarm payroll jobs in June, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, well below economists' expectations of 115,000 new jobs. The unemployment rate unexpectedly fell to 4.2% from 4.3%, but the report was weakened by downward revisions to previous months, with April and May job gains revised lower by a combined 74,000 jobs.

The labor market showed mixed trends across industries. The leisure and hospitality sector lost 61,000 jobs because of weaker-than-usual seasonal hiring, making it the largest drag on employment. Meanwhile, professional and business services added 36,000 jobs, social assistance gained 25,000, and health care added 22,000 positions. Average hourly earnings increased 0.3% during the month and were up 3.5% compared with a year earlier.

Although the unemployment rate declined, the improvement was partly driven by fewer people participating in the labor force, as the labor force participation rate fell to 61.5%. The number of unemployed Americans remained at 7.1 million, suggesting the labor market continues to cool rather than strengthen. The report is expected to play a role in upcoming discussions at the Federal Reserve as policymakers consider whether to adjust interest rates later this month.

For the article: https://qz.com/us-jobs-report-june-2026-payrolls-unemployment-070226