Non-farm payrolls
The US non-farm payrolls report is one of the most eagerly-awaited economic events worldwide – find out more below.
April's report showed that 196,000 jobs were added in March, which was above the forecast 180,000. This compares to a revised 33,000 jobs added in February.
What are the non-farm payrolls?
The US non-farm payrolls is an official statistic released by the US Department of Labor, usually on the first Friday of every month. The non-farm payrolls measure the number of people currently in employment in the US and are released along with the US unemployment rate. Both are important yardsticks used by traders and analysts alike to get an insight into the health of the US economy. Specifically, the non-farm payrolls measure the number of people in employment in all businesses across the country, excluding agricultural, local government, private household and not-for-profit sectors.
Trading the non-farm payrolls
Learn about some of the potential trading strategies for the non-farms announcement, and view some of the other economic indicators which could move the markets.
Latest news
Stay up-to-date with the latest non-farm payrolls news and analysis and its affect on the markets, from our global market analysts team.
Softer start expected for Europe
European and US equity markets traded higher on Friday after the US announced a by-and-large positive jobs report on Friday.
Mixed US jobs report helps equities
Stock markets are in positive territory heading into the close.
Sterling comes under pressure in another big week for Brexit
The steady recovery in global equity markets that we’ve seen since the start of the year appears to have hit a fairly big bump in the road, with US markets posting their worst week this year.
Mixed US jobs report adds to global growth concerns
Equity markets are firmly in the red as traders are concerned about the state of the global economy.
China trade data triggers declines, US jobs data in focus
European Stock markets finished lower yesterday after a volatile session.
Cautious start for Europe
Asia markets got off to a slow but positive start this week, taking their cues from a decent US non-farm payrolls report on Friday, and a China Caixin services PMI reading which was slightly better-than-expected for January.
Risk assets extend gains, trade outlook remains unclear
A more dovish-than-expected Fed statement in January’s FOMC meeting fuelled a second day of global rallying in risk assets – equity, commodity, EM currencies – as markets tried to bake a ‘zero rate hike’ scenario into the equity valuation, and weaker dollar prospects into currency markets.
China data compounds investors’ fears
Volatility was the overriding theme in global stock markets last week.
Sentiment mixed as Chinese concerns persist
Stocks had a good run last week but ended on a mixed note.
Stocks edge lower amid US jobs report
Its déjà vu for the FTSE 100 and DAX 30 as both markets had a positive run during the morning, but have edged lower since lunchtime, and are now showing tiny gains.
Stocks rally as US-China relationship thaws, US jobs report in focus
European equity markets had a mixed session yesterday.
Stocks lower over firm US yields and trade fears
European and US stocks finished lower last week as traders were worried about the rally in US government bond yields, which hit fresh seven-year highs.
The week ahead: Non-farm payrolls, Aston Martin, RBA, Tesco
View our top eight stories to look out for this week (1-5 October), plus our key company earnings schedule.
Strong non-farms underpin dollar, trade in focus
Upbeat wage growth number and US non-farm payrolls smashed market expectations last Friday, underpinning the strength of the dollar as the Fed now has more reason to raise rates twice by year-end.
US dollar jumps post strong jobs report, wheels come off Tesla
Stock markets are set to finish firmly in the red as a number of factors are weighing on sentiment.
US payrolls in focus, as new tariff concerns rise
It’s been a difficult week for European markets with the DAX and FTSE 100 both hitting multi-month lows this week as investors continued to lose confidence in the economic growth and earnings story.
Tech leads US stock decline, non-farm in the spotlight
The US equity markets came off from record highs for a fourth day amid escalating trade tensions and emerging market turmoil.
Trade woes continue, Centrica higher post Ofgem cap
European equity markets are still suffering from the same issues, poor global trading relations and weakening emerging market economies.
Stocks rally as trade fears are put on hold
European stock markets are set to finish on a high note.
Positive jobs report from the US outshines trade fears
Trade tensions have risen again as China threatens to impose tariffs on $60 billion worth of US imports.
US payrolls in focus, as Apple’s $1trn valuation rallies US markets
European markets underwent a torrid session yesterday, falling sharply as concerns rose of an escalation in trade tensions between the US and China after President Trump raised the prospect of higher tariffs on $200bn of Chinese products, from 10% to 25%.
Chinese worries hit FTSE, dealers await Fed announcement
Trade concerns and disappointing manufacturing figures from China have hit the FTSE 100 hard.
Markets mixed after mediocre US jobs report
Trade tensions and a mixed US non-farm payrolls report has put pressure on stocks.
Stocks mixed despite heightened trade tensions
Stocks are mixed this morning despite the heightened trade tensions between the US and China.
US payrolls in focus as US tariffs kick in
European markets enjoyed a decent day yesterday helped by reports that the American ambassador to Germany reportedly told German car executives that the US would suspend threats of charges on autos if the bloc also removed equivalent charges on US cars.
Calm returns to Europe, DS Smith rallies on takeover bid
European equity markets are in positive territory this morning as global sentiment has improved.
Italian political stability and US jobs report boosts stocks
Politics has played a big role in today’s positive move in European stocks.
Italian politics sends stocks higher
Political sentiment in Italy has boosted investor sentiment in Europe.
Italy agrees a government and trade tensions escalate, ahead of US payrolls
Despite coming off the back of eight consecutive weeks of gains, May turned out to be a somewhat mixed affair for European investors with only the DAX and FTSE 100 managing to finish in positive territory.
Europe to open higher despite political disruption
European and US equities had a subdued session yesterday as traders spent much of the day waiting for the US to announce its decision in relation to the Iranian nuclear deal, and stock markets had a muted reaction to the news.
FTSE called higher amid strong Chinese trade data
Chinese imports and exports increased by 21.5% and 12.9% respectively, well ahead of consensus estimates of 16% and 8%.
Traders unfazed by mediocre US jobs report
European equity markets are higher this afternoon as the bullish sentiment in Europe continues.
IAG flying high after solid results
European equity markets are largely higher this morning as traders await the US non-farm payrolls report at lunchtime.
US non-farm payrolls could extend dollar rally
The US dollar continued to push higher yesterday, hitting its highest levels this year before retreating ahead of today’s US non-farm payrolls report. The rise in the dollar is starting to exert downward pressure on US stock markets.
Stocks slide as US jobs report disappoints
European stock markets are feeling the pinch this afternoon on account of the US non-farm payrolls update.
GKN are in Melrose’s crosshairs again
Equity markets in Europe are higher this morning as the positive finish in Asia overnight has lifted sentiment.
Europe struggles for gains, as US wage growth slows
It’s been a fairly good week for European equity markets, though they have struggled today despite all the talk of tariffs, trade wars and political uncertainty from the Italian election.
Deutsche bank drops and investors await US jobs report
Stocks are in the red this morning as traders look ahead to the US non-farm payrolls report, with continental Europe feeling the pain far worse than the London market.
US non-farm payrolls in focus as European markets come under pressure
It's been a familiar theme for some time now and it continued yesterday as US yields continued to climb, while the US dollar itself remained under pressure, drifting back towards its recent three-year lows against a basket of currencies.
FTSE eyes record close as supermarkets in demand
Stock markets in Europe are heading for a strong finish, and the FTSE 100 could close the session at a record high.
Equity traders are bullish ahead of US jobs report
European equity markets are driving higher this morning as the investor sentiment around the globe is running high.
Markets steady ahead of US jobs report
It was another robust performance on Wall Street last night as the Dow Jones cracked 25,000 and managed to close above that level, while the S&P 500 and NASDAQ 100 also registered solid gains.
Central Banks in play this week
Last Friday’s US non-farm payrolls report was above average, but nothing special.
Brexit breakthrough boosts sterling
The UK and the EU have made sufficient progress in the Brexit talks, and now they can move on the trade aspect of the negations.
Strong ISM figure counteracts mediocre jobs report
The FTSE 100 had a strong start to the session as the pound was still suffering from the Bank of England (BoE) update yesterday.
Stocks steady ahead of US jobs data
The FTSE 100 is still strong today after the rally yesterday, but we have seen a slight pullback from the bullish start to the session.
High hopes for US jobs report
The Caixin survey of Chinese services in October came in at 51.2, and that compared with 50.6 in September. The Beijing authorities are trying to shift the focus of the economy towards the services sector, and it is clearly working.
Spanish stocks rise but tensions still persist
The Spanish stock market bounced back today, but there is still no political outcome on the horizon as the Catalan question lingers.
US non-farm payrolls webinar recording - 6 October 2017
Watch the recording of Michael Hewson's latest non-farm payrolls webinar to see his analysis and reaction to the data as it was released.
US dollar and stocks slip post jobs report
The FTSE 100 has been helped by weakness in the pound, and the British index reached a level not seen since early August.
Spanish stocks slip as Catalan stand-off continues
The IBEX 35 was been hit by profit taking as yesterday’s impressive bounce back was short lived.
Steady markets await non-farm payrolls and more manufacturing PMI reports
Stock markets around the world are trading up slightly overnight. US index futures are up 0.1%. The DAX is up 0.7% and the FTSE is up 0.25%. Major currencies including gold are all steady this morning.
US payrolls in focus as greenback looks to find a base
Despite managing to post a second successive day of gains European stocks still finished lower for the third month in succession, having been unable to reverse all of the heavy losses seen at the beginning of the week.
Stocks rebound as tensions steady
European equity markets bounced back this morning after the major sell-off we witnessed yesterday.
Encouraging non-farm payrolls data sends stocks and the dollar higher
The US dollar index rebounded nearly 1% after the release of nonfarm payroll numbers on Friday.
Stocks flat ahead of US jobs report
Equity markets are broadly unchanged as traders await the US non-farm payroll report at 1.30pm. (UK time).
Earnings updates provide volatility in Europe
European stock markets are a mixed bag today as little has changed on the macro-economic front, and a few corporate earnings releases are driving volatility in individual equities.
Non-farm payrolls, Canada jobs and G20 preview; plus oil sell-off
Stock markets have been steady overnight as traders await a flurry of potential developments, particularly for the US and Canada. US index futures and the FTSE are flat, the Dax and Nikkei are down 0.3%.
US employment reports and inflation preview
UK Chief Market Analyst Michael Hewson looks ahead to the latest US employment reports, namely ADP and non-farm payrolls, as well as inflation prospects in the US and EU.
Non-farm payroll disappoints; Noble sells its US energy unit
Non-farm payroll reads 156k, slightly below consensus
Lower non-farm payroll figures sent equities and gold higher
April’s non-farm payroll figure from the US increased by 160k, far below the market’s forecast of 202k, and lower than last month’s reading of 215k.
Stocks muted ahead of non-farm payrolls; commodities fell as the dollar advanced
Crude oil prices retraced after a two-day rally. The expanding wildfire in Canada and escalating fighting in Libya initially got market nerves jangling, but this worry was eased last night.
US Payrolls in focus this week
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