Non-Farm Payrolls counts how many jobs the US economy added last month, the single most-watched gauge of US labor strength.
Actual
162K
Forecast
42.0K
Previous
21K
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Figures as released; revisions appear in the next print.
US Non-Farm Payrolls (NFP) for August 2026 came in at 162K versus 42.0K expected (previous 21K), above forecast, which was positive for the USD.
What it meant for the US Dollar
The actual landed above the 42.0K forecast (120 above expectations). A reading above forecast is generally bullish for the USD, and below forecast bearish. On this release the read was positive for the USD.
New to this release? See what US Non-Farm Payrolls (NFP) measures, the next release and its full history.