Mixed job market
Last week the market received mixed messages about the condition of the labor market. Nonfarm payrolls came in lower than expected, and the previous two months of data were revised sharply lower. Yet initial jobless claims were also lower, and the unemployment rate remains in range. We believe the U.S. economy can still deliver modest growth this year.
3 mins Reading time
Published on 05 August 2025
This past Friday, the nonfarm payrolls report missed expectations of 104,000 with a monthly addition of 73,000. Moreover, the prior two months’ additions were revised lower by a combined 258,000, the biggest downward revision since 2020. These results stoked anxiety in many investors, and helped push the major U.S. indices lower last week.
It’s important to note that though this information suggests the labor market may be cooling, initial jobless claims came in last week at their lowest level in four months, and the unemployment rate ticked up just 0.1% to 4.2%, remaining in the 4-4.2% range where it has held steady over the past 14 months.
Labor market signals are clearly mixed, but the latest numbers do not change our outlook on economic growth. Demand for labor has weakened, but initial jobless claims suggest companies are not laying off workers, which has helped support consumption. We are watching to see whether the latest prints are simply noise or the beginning of a trend, and we continue to believe the economy can avoid a recession and deliver modest growth of around 1% this year.
784118 Exp : 05 August 2026
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE
Stronger growth expectations are driving a global rotation out of growth-oriented and mega cap technology stocks, and into cyclical companies. At a time when geopolitical tensions and tariff discussions continue to simmer, we remind investors to stay invested despite the headline noise.
The S&P 500 recently hit a new all-time high after a notable year of peaks in 2025. Is now the time for caution? History tells us attractive performance often follows record highs.
Tech stocks have outperformed the rest of the S&P 500 for several years, and while we expect earnings growth among these companies to continue in 2026, we see another encouraging trend emerging. Earnings across the rest of the market are on an upward path too — and are set to contribute more to earnings growth for the S&P 500 Index in 2026 than the Magnificent 7.
Industrial production is a proxy for the level of manufacturing in the economy, and last week’s report showed the highest growth rate in three years. Not only is this positive for the manufacturing sector and those companies tied to it, but it is also an indication that a recession may be unlikely in the near term.
