BLS Revises U.S. Job Growth Data Downward: 911,000 Fewer Jobs Added

On September 9, 2025, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released a preliminary benchmark revision indicating that the U.S. economy added 911,000 fewer jobs between April 2024 and March 2025 than previously estimated. This significant downward adjustment suggests that the labor market was weaker during that period than earlier reports had indicated.

The most substantial revisions were observed in sectors such as leisure and hospitality (176,000 jobs), professional and business services (158,000 jobs), and retail (126,000 jobs). These adjustments have raised concerns about the overall health of the labor market and may influence future economic policies, including potential interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve.

The BLS conducts annual benchmark revisions to align employment data with more comprehensive records from the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW). These revisions are standard practice to ensure data accuracy. The current revision indicates 911,000 fewer jobs added than previously estimated, marking the largest downward adjustment on record.

The BLS's revised methodology incorporates unemployment insurance tax records, which will officially adjust average monthly job growth from April 2024 to March 2025 to just 71,000—half the initially reported rate.

Economists suggest that this weaker starting point casts doubt on the health of the labor market and may prompt the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates at upcoming meetings.

The Trump administration has criticized the BLS's data integrity, with President Trump even firing the BLS commissioner, Erika McEntarfer, on August 1, 2025, after earlier job growth revisions proved disappointing.

The BLS's recent revision of employment data has significant implications for the understanding of the U.S. labor market's health, economic policy decisions, and public trust in government statistics. The unprecedented magnitude of the revision, coupled with the political reactions it has sparked, underscores the importance of accurate and transparent economic data in shaping policy and public perception.