US economy unexpectedly shed 23,000 jobs in July

Economists surveyed by Dow Jones expect the release to show 83,000 added roles, more than June’s 57,000.

On Friday morning, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) will publish its monthly Employment Situation Summary, containing the latest nonfarm payrolls data—the number of jobs the economy created last month—as well as a new reading on the national unemployment rate.

Hiring had rebounded this year from a lackluster 2025 in the face of the conflict in the Persian Gulf that has sent energy prices surging and put a strain on family budgets.

Private-sector hiring cooled sharply in July, but employers are still paying more to attract and retain workers, highlighting a labor market that remains tighter than headline job numbers suggest.