US jobs growth slows as new data shows weakening labour market momentum

The US economy added just 50,000 jobs in August, according to the first release of Revelio Public Labor Statistics (RPLS), a new monthly data set designed to complement reporting by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The figure fell short of market expectations and highlights a slowdown in hiring momentum. RPLS data also shows active job postings down 0.3 per cent in the month, while both hiring and attrition declined, signalling reduced labour market dynamism.

Salaries from new postings rose 0.6 per cent despite the weaker jobs picture, pointing to continuing competition for specialist skills.

Lisa Simon, Chief Economist at Revelio Labs, said: ‘Our numbers point to a weakening economy, with modest job growth well below expectations. I am not surprised by these numbers, as we have been seeing decreasing demand from job postings over the past months and very little labour market dynamism in terms of hiring and attrition.’

Key stats

• U.S. economy added 50,000 jobs in August, coming in below expectations.
• Salaries from new job postings rose 0.6% month-over-month.
• Active job postings declined 0.3%, continuing a downward trend.
• Hiring and attrition both fell further (by 0.2% and 0.3%, respectively), signaling reduced labor market dynamism.

The launch of RPLS gives employers, policymakers and researchers a new source of workforce data with a faster turnaround than BLS reports. Revelio Labs says the series is intended as a public resource providing a higher resolution view of US employment and pay trends.

For learning and development teams, the figures may add to pressure to develop skills in-house rather than rely on external hiring. Rising pay for in-demand roles, coupled with fewer vacancies, suggests employers are becoming more selective about the talent they bring in from outside.