In February, 158.5 million Americans were working, down from the January peak of 158.6 million, with six of Trump’s 14 second-term months seeing job losses.
While labor force participation and employment-population ratios for prime-age workers are near historic highs, neither metric has reached a record, and overall job growth under Trump’s second term lags previous presidents.
Economists note that population growth inflates raw employment numbers, and health care is the only sector consistently adding jobs, highlighting broader weaknesses in the current U.S. job market.
What does a 'strong labor market' mean when the economy needs almost zero new jobs to stay stable?
As AI boosts productivity, is the era of mass job creation officially over?
Why is consumer sentiment at a record low when GDP growth and productivity are reportedly strong?
Is the economy's heavy reliance on healthcare jobs creating a fragile and unbalanced system?
With an aging population, could immigration become the most critical lever for future economic growth?
How can workers adapt as AI eliminates entry-level roles and raises the skill threshold for existing jobs?