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U.S. February Nonfarm Payrolls Decline by 92,000, Missing Estimates

U.S. February Nonfarm Payrolls Decline by 92,000, Missing Estimates

The February report shows a notable drop in U.S. nonfarm payrolls, with the unemployment rate rising to 4.4%, highlighting potential labor market weaknesses and influencing precious metal markets and rate expectations.

Fact Check
The figure of -92,000 is directly reported by Jiji Press immediately following the scheduled BLS release time on March 6, 2026. The miss is confirmed by comparing this result to the pre-release consensus of +50,000 reported by CNBC.
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Summary

U.S. nonfarm payrolls fell by 92,000 in February 2025, below the projected gain of 59,000, while the unemployment rate increased to 4.4%. Job losses were partly driven by healthcare sector strikes. The decline spurred rises in gold and silver prices as traders anticipated potential rate cuts in 2026.

Terms & Concepts
  • Nonfarm Payrolls: A key U.S. labor statistic measuring the number of paid workers excluding farm employees, private household workers, and non-profit organization employees.