A batch of jobs data scheduled for release this week could help shed light on whether the labor market remains on solid footing halfway through 2026.

The unemployment rate ticked down to 4.2 percent, but average hourly earnings were steady, giving Kevin Warsh, the Federal Reserve chairman, room to focus on fighting inflation.

Economists say June’s modest job gains point to a stagnant, low-hire labor market where people are continuing to have a hard time finding new jobs.

By Howard Schneider WASHINGTON, July 2 (Reuters) - A weaker-than-expected jobs report could renew debate at the U.S. Federal Reserve about how to read the labor market at a time when the number of people available to work may also be in decline due to an aging population and tough immigration laws.

The labor market may be rousing from its slumber.

Economists surveyed by Bloomberg expect government data to show the economy added 115,000 jobs in June, with the unemployment rate remaining flat at 4.3% for the fourth consecutive month.

Anthropic’s head of economics Peter McCrory discusses what the company’s latest research can tell us about AI’s effects on the broader job market.

May Employment Numbers Blow Past Economists' Expectations

WASHINGTON, June 30 (Reuters) - U.S. consumer confidence nudged higher in June as a fragile truce in the Middle East conflict weighed down on gasoline prices, while households' perceptions of labor market conditions deteriorated,

The U.S. labor market is losing momentum, but not collapsing. Nonfarm payrolls rose by only 57,000, previous months were revised lower, and hiring has clearly slowed.