International Monetary Fund Director Kristalina Georgieva analyzes the U.S. economy as productivity rises on “Mornings with Maria.”
This February 2026 jobs report story is developing and will be updated with more details.
The U.S. economy unexpectedly lost jobs in February as employers retreated to start 2026 amid economic uncertainty.
What are the key findings of the February 2026 jobs report?
The Ministry of Labor reported on Wednesday that employers cut 92,000 jobs in February. That figure was well below expectations of economists surveyed by LSEG, who estimated the economy would add 59,000 jobs.
The unemployment rate was 4.4%, slightly higher than economists’ expectations of 4.3%.
Revisions have been made to the previous two months’ payroll figures, with the December report revised downwards by 65,000 jobs from a gain of 48,000 to a loss of 17,000, and the January report revised downwards by 4,000 from a gain of 130,000 to 126,000.
All told, employment in December and January was 69,000 jobs lower than previously reported.
WHY IS THE LABOR DEPARTMENT REVIEWING THE JOBS REPORTS? HERE ARE 3 REASONS
Which sectors added or lost the most jobs in February 2026?
Private payroll companies lost 86,000 jobs in February, while economists expected a gain of 65,000 jobs for the month. January’s gain of 172,000 jobs was also revised downwards to 146,000.
Government payrolls shrank by 6,000 jobs in February. Job losses in the federal government (-10,000) and local governments (-1,000) were partially offset by job gains in state governments (+5,000). Federal government employment is down 330,000 jobs, or 11%, from its October 2024 peak.
The manufacturing sector lost 12,000 jobs in February, well below expectations of LSEG economists, who predicted a gain of 3,000 jobs.
Healthcare employment fell by 28,000 jobs in February, after an increase of 77,000 jobs in the sector in January. Doctors’ offices lost 37,000 jobs in February, mainly due to strike activity, while hospitals added 12,000 jobs. Over the past twelve months, the healthcare industry has grown an average of 36,000 jobs per month.
The information sector lost 11,000 jobs in February, continuing a downward trend after losing an average of 5,000 jobs over the past 12 months.
Social assistance employers added 9,000 jobs in February, thanks to individual and family services (+12,000).
Employment in the transport and storage sector fell by 11,000 jobs. A loss in couriers and messengers (-17,000) was partially offset by a gain in air transport (+5,000). Employment in the sector is down 157,000 jobs, or 2.4%, from its peak in February 2025.
What does the February 2026 jobs report mean for the workforce?
The number of long-term unemployed, defined as those who have been unemployed for 27 weeks or more, was little changed at 1.9 million in February but rose from 1.5 million a year ago. Long-term unemployed people made up 25.3% of all unemployed people in February.
