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PORTAL7.CO.ID - The United States economy encountered a significant hurdle in February 2026, registering an unexpected loss of 92,000 jobs. This downturn caused the national unemployment rate to climb to 4.4 percent, as officially detailed in the latest report from the US Labor Department.
This negative trend marks the sixth contraction recorded in the American labor market since the start of the Trump administration. The reported figures fell considerably short of the consensus projections previously issued by economists from Reuters, Bloomberg, and Dow Jones.
The jobless rate saw a modest increase of 0.1 percent compared to the 4.3 percent recorded in January. Furthermore, the data highlights a structural issue, showing that over a quarter of the currently unemployed population has been seeking work for more than 27 weeks.
Sector-specific data revealed that the healthcare industry bore the brunt of the losses, shedding a substantial 28,000 positions during the month. Additionally, the federal government reported a reduction of 10,000 roles, a situation partially attributed to ongoing labor disputes in key regions like New York, Hawaii, and California.
These official findings presented a stark contrast to the preceding ADP private payroll report released on Thursday, which had indicated job creation in education and health services totaling 58,000 positions. The ADP report had suggested a healthier overall monthly gain of 63,000 jobs across the private sector.
Employment in trade-related sectors continued to struggle, with transportation and warehousing losing 11,000 jobs in February alone. This specific industry segment has now seen a cumulative reduction of 157,000 positions over the course of the preceding year.
Despite the recent Supreme Court decision against certain import duties, President Trump has maintained a 10 percent global tariff, signaling intentions to potentially escalate this rate to 15 percent in the near future. These trade policies interact complexly with the weakening domestic employment figures.
Looking ahead, economists currently project that the Federal Reserve will hold benchmark interest rates steady between 3.50 percent and 3.75 percent at its scheduled meeting on March 17-18. However, the disappointing jobs report has amplified expectations for a potential rate cut in June.
"Today’s numbers may have put the Fed between a rock and a hard place," stated Ellen Zentner, chief economic strategist at Morgan Stanley Wealth Management, in comments provided to Reuters.
