Total Nonfarm Payrolls
Total employment in the U.S. nonfarm economy
What is the current Total Nonfarm Payrolls?
Total nonfarm payrolls stood at 158.5 million in the latest BLS report. This headline employment number tracks the total number of paid workers in the U.S. economy excluding farm workers and a few other categories. Month-over-month changes signal the pace of job creation or destruction. Source: BLS via FRED (PAYEMS).
Record 158.5 million jobs — but the composition tells a different story
BLS data. Total nonfarm employment is at all-time highs. The headline masks composition shifts: many new jobs are lower-wage, part-time, or in sectors with higher turnover.
Explore Further
How has Total Nonfarm Payrolls changed over time?
Most affected counties
Counties with the highest structural poverty scores in the County Distress Index.
Explore all 3,144 counties →| Period | Value | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|
| Mar 2026 | 158,637 | +260.00 |
| Feb 2026 | 158,459 | +149.00 |
| Jan 2026 | 158,592 | +324.00 |
| Dec 2025 | 158,432 | +116.00 |
| Nov 2025 | 158,449 | +370.00 |
| Oct 2025 | 158,408 | +463.00 |
| Sep 2025 | 158,548 | +636.00 |
| Aug 2025 | 158,472 | +715.00 |
| Jul 2025 | 158,542 | +794.00 |
| Jun 2025 | 158,478 | +783.00 |
| May 2025 | 158,498 | +890.00 |
| Apr 2025 | 158,485 | +955.00 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What are total nonfarm payrolls?
Nonfarm payrolls count the total number of paid U.S. workers excluding farm employees, private household employees, and nonprofit organization employees. At 158.5 million, it is the broadest measure of U.S. employment.
Why do payrolls matter for the distress index?
Employment is the foundation of household income. Slowing payroll growth or outright job losses directly increase financial distress by reducing income available to service debt and cover expenses.
Where does this data come from?
Published monthly by the Bureau of Labor Statistics as part of the Current Employment Statistics survey, available via FRED series PAYEMS.
Quick poll
Is this affecting you or your household?
Discussion
Get the numbers when they move.
New data drops, indicator updates, and ADI score changes — delivered when it matters. No spam.
or Create an Account for full access
Loading comments…