U.S. non farm payrolls underperformed significantly in August, with employment gains reaching only 22,000 after seasonal adjustments—falling short of market forecasts predicting 75,000 new jobs. The disappointing labor market data coincided with the unemployment rate climbing to 4.3%, marking its highest level since late 2021. This combination of weaker-than-expected job growth and rising joblessness signals potential cooling in the employment sector, raising questions about the broader health of the U.S. economy. According to PANews reporting from early September, these figures aligned with analyst expectations regarding unemployment but presented a more concerning picture for non farm payrolls momentum, suggesting labor market resilience may be facing headwinds.