US nonfarm payrolls fell 23,000 in July 2026, missing forecasts by 103,000 jobs and sending Fed rate hike expectations lower ahead of September.

The U.S. lost 23,000 jobs in July, far below forecasts, while earlier months were revised down—prompting markets to quickly rethink the Fed’s next rate move.

A summer hiring slump dogged the US labor market in July as the economy unexpectedly lost 23,000 jobs, according to new data released Friday by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.