Government shutdown delays key monthly jobs report at a pivotal moment for the U.S. economy [View all]

Source: NBC News

Oct. 3, 2025, 5:00 AM EDT


For people who closely follow the U.S. economy, the first Friday of every month is known as “jobs Friday,” when the Bureau of Labor Statistics releases the previous month’s employment report at precisely 8:30 a.m. ET. But on this jobs Friday, September's employment data — a critical window into the health of the U.S. labor market — will not be released.

Like many other federal offices, the BLS is temporarily closed because of the ongoing government shutdown. Until Congress approves its funding, the bureau’s more than 2,000 employees will remain furloughed, unable to release any reports.

The data blackout comes at a perilous time for the U.S. economy. The unemployment rate has steadily ticked up this year, from a seasonally adjusted 4% in January to 4.3% in August. On Wednesday, new private-sector employment data released by payroll processing giant ADP showed a net loss of 32,000 jobs in September. Economists had expected a gain of around 45,000 jobs.

The surprise loss of private-sector jobs only served to compound the value a Friday jobs report could have provided to policymakers and businesses as they try to make sense of the rapid shifts underway in the labor market.

Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/business/economy/government-shutdown-jobs-report-trump-rcna235298