U.S. nonfarm payrolls increased by 162,000 in August, but seasonal adjustments may have made the gain appear stronger than it was. Unadjusted employment rose by 154,000, a level similar to 2025, while applying the same seasonal adjustment factor used last year would produce an estimated increase of about 15,000. The comparison has prompted analysis that the headline August figure may have limited value as a benchmark for assessing September labor-market trends. Walter Bloomberg reported the figures on October 1.