Perspective from the BEA Accounts

BEA produces some of the most closely watched economic statistics that influence decisions of government officials, business people, and individuals. These statistics provide a comprehensive, up-to-date picture of the U.S. economy. The data on this page are drawn from featured BEA economic accounts.

U.S. Economy at a Glance Table

The US economy added 1.76 million jobs in July 2020, easing from a record 4.8 million in the previous month, as a resurgence in COVID-19 cases hit the labor market recovery. Still, the reading beat market expectations of a 1.6 million increase with employment in leisure and hospitality increasing by 592 thousand and accounting for about one-third of the gain, and with government employment rising by 301 thousand. Typically, public-sector education employment falls in July, but declines occurred earlier than usual this year due to the pandemic, resulting in unusually large increases in local government education (+215 thousand) and state government education (+30 thousand). Also, a 27 thousand advance in federal government employment reflected the hiring of temporary workers for the 2020 Census. Increases were also seen in retail trade, professional and business services, other services, and health care. Nonfarm employment remained 12.9 million below their pre pandemic-level. Non Farm Payrolls in the United States averaged 112.13 Thousand from 1939 until 2020, reaching an all time high of 4791 Thousand in June of 2020 and a record low of -20787 Thousand in April of 2020. This page provides the latest reported value for - United States Non Farm Payrolls - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.