Donald Trump said of the August jobs report: "Great jobs number just announced"

The Labor Department reported that U.S. employers added 162,000 jobs in August, far exceeding analysts’ expectations of about 65,000, while unemployment held at 4.1% and payroll figures for June and July were revised upward by 55,000. President Donald Trump reacted to the data Friday on social media, celebrating the strong hiring report with midterm elections two months away. The upbeat employment picture, however, coexists with persistent inflation; average hourly wages rose just 3.1% over the past year, the weakest annual increase since May 2021, and voters remain frustrated by high fuel costs. The report could also influence the Federal Reserve, which meets September 15-16 to decide whether to raise its benchmark interest rate.