U.S. employers added 162,000 jobs in August, according to a Sept. 4 estimate from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, while revisions to previous months indicated a stronger summer labor market than initially reported. Hiring extended across goods production, services and government, with gains in food services and drinking places, local government education, construction, manufacturing and health care. Jim Baird, chief investment officer at Plante Moran Financial Advisors, said the breadth of gains suggested a more balanced labor market than during periods when hiring was concentrated in fewer sectors. Kory Kantenga, LinkedIn's head of economics for the Americas, said the data showed a stable rather than accelerating labor market and characterized gains in leisure and hospitality and government as a rebound from earlier summer weakness. Separately, U.S. employers announced plans to hire 12,325 workers in August, down 23% from July but the highest August total since 2022, according to Challenger, Gray & Christmas. Companies' announced hiring plans were up 37% in 2026 from the same period in 2025, led by aerospace and defense, technology and industrial goods. The Labor Department projects 5.9 million additional U.S. jobs between 2025 and 2035, with employment growth of 3.5%, slower than the 10.9% recorded from 2015 to 2025. Federal government and retail employment are expected to decline, while health care and industries tied to the AI buildout are expected to see increased demand.