BLS Revises March 2026 Nonfarm Payrolls Down by 79,000

The Bureau of Labor Statistics issued a preliminary downward adjustment to U.S. employment growth for the year ending March 2026. Total nonfarm employment was revised down by 79,000, or 0.1 percent, while private sector employment saw a larger reduction of 178,000. This adjustment lowers the average monthly job growth between the last three quarters of 2025 and the first quarter of 2026 to 16,000, down from the previously reported 23,000.

The revision resulted from comparing Current Employment Statistics estimates against mandatory state unemployment insurance tax records. Sector-specific data showed that wholesale and retail trade were overstated by 240,000 jobs, while construction and transportation were understated by nearly 200,000. The agency noted that the 0.1 percent adjustment falls within historical norms, citing a ten-year absolute average of 0.2 percent for such revisions.

These figures follow two years of significant data discrepancies that drew political scrutiny and led President Donald Trump to fire former agency head Erika McEntarfer. Economists suggest the improved accuracy may stem from updated estimation procedures or a more stable labor market. The final benchmark revision is scheduled for release in February 2027.