Confidence Assured in the Job Report: Employees of the Labor Department Encourage Public Belief

The U.S. jobs report for August showed a disappointing addition of only 22,000 jobs, significantly less than anticipated. This news comes amidst a series of revisions to previous jobs numbers and a controversy surrounding the firing of BLS Commissioner Erika McEntarfer.

The July jobs numbers were revised up by 6,000 on Friday, but the June report was revised to show that the country lost jobs for the first time since 2020. These revisions are not uncommon, as some employers don't respond in time for the publication of the jobs report.

Every month, the government surveys about 121,000 businesses and government agencies across the country to gather employment data. The BLS, responsible for publishing this data, assures the public that its numbers will remain accurate and nonpartisan. If the accuracy of the BLS data ever changes, the professionals will tell you.

The current BLS employees have called McEntarfer's firing alarming and demanded her reinstatement. A rally was held by supporters of BLS employees outside the Labor Department in Washington, D.C. on September 5, 2025. Helen Lurie, a member of the Stop DOL Cuts coalition, read the statement at the rally, which was written by current BLS employees.

The statement emphasised the transparency of the BLS's work, as the BLS publishes its sources and methods. The BLS employees vowed to publish reliable data, "no matter how inconvenient the results." They seek to reassure the American public that the government's economic data is reliable and trustworthy.

Trump, the former President, claimed without evidence that the jobs numbers had been rigged to make him look bad. He also accused McEntarfer of manipulating the jobs numbers before last November's presidential election. However, the BLS emphasises the integrity of its work and its commitment to maintaining public trust.

The BLS data revisions follow a set schedule, with the information being folded in to existing data to get a more accurate picture for the previous months. The BLS numbers will remain a crucial source of economic data for policymakers and the general public alike.

Confidence Assured in the Job Report: Employees of the Labor Department Encourage Public Belief