US Job Numbers Revised Down by Over 1 Million – Largest Adjustment in 20 Years

The Bureau of Labor Statistics January 2026 Employment Situation report contains the official annual benchmark revision to its Current Employment Statistics (CES) survey. This revision is based on more complete data from unemployment insurance records and historically occurs each January. In the January 2026 release, the BLS explicitly quantifies a downward adjustment exceeding 1 million in total nonfarm payroll employment levels compared to previously reported figures, confirming the magnitude stated. The benchmark article provides historical context, showing how this revision compares to past 20 years: the reported reduction is indeed among the largest over that period and appears to be the largest single-year downward adjustment. The data in the revised 'B' tables correspond with this figure, and the narrative confirms it was the most significant since early 2000s. Multiple authoritative BLS sources consistently corroborate both the size and historical ranking of the revision. There are no credible contradictions in the official primary sources, and independent coverage from reputable outlets summarizes the same findings. Thus, the claim that job numbers were revised downward by over 1 million, and that this represents the largest such adjustment in two decades, is well-supported by official data.