The U.S. economy lost 92,000 jobs in February, surprising economists who had expected job growth. The unemployment rate rose slightly to 4.4%, and earlier job numbers for December and January were revised downward. Job losses occurred across several sectors, including healthcare, transportation, information, and the federal government. Economists say hiring has slowed significantly since 2025, with overall job growth last year reaching only 181,000 jobs, the weakest since the COVID-19 pandemic.
See "US lost 92,000 jobs in February just before Trump joined Iran conflict", Michael Sainato, The Guardian, March 6, 2026