The White House called the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics jobs report 'strong,' but the data tell another story: unemployment rose to its highest level in more than four years and the U.S. posted net job losses in June, August and October. Since the April 2 'Liberation Day' tariffs the economy has added just 119,000 jobs cumulatively, averaging about 17,000 per month versus 168,000 per month last year. Through the first 11 months of 2025 the U.S. added 610,000 jobs compared with nearly 1.7 million over the same span in 2024, putting 2025 on pace for the weakest year of job creation since the Great Recession.
White House Calls Jobs Report 'Strong' — BLS Data Show Weak Hiring and Net Losses
Data from the Bureau of Labor StatisticsSteve Benen/MS NOW
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt released a statement calling the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics jobs report 'strong.' Earlier that day she also made a string of inaccurate or misleading claims — including that the president coined the 'drill, baby, drill' slogan, that 100% of jobs added during the previous administration went to foreign-born workers, and that many states have gas under $2 per gallon — none of which are supported by the facts.
What the Jobs Report Actually Shows
The BLS report released Tuesday paints a much weaker picture than the White House statement suggests. The national unemployment rate rose to its highest level in more than four years, and monthly job growth has slowed to an anemic pace. The data also show net job losses in June, August and October.
To put the trend in perspective: since the president announced the 'Liberation Day' tariffs on April 2, the economy has added just 119,000 jobs in total — cumulative, not per month. That amounts to roughly 17,000 jobs per month since April 2, versus an average of about 168,000 jobs per month over the comparable period last year.
Through the first 11 months of 2025 the U.S. added 610,000 jobs. By comparison, the first 11 months of 2024 produced nearly 1.7 million jobs. If hiring continues at the current pace, 2025 is on track to be the weakest year for job creation since the Great Recession (excluding the extraordinary losses tied to the 2020 pandemic).
Why Calling the Report 'Strong' Is Misleading
Describing these figures as 'strong' misrepresents the scope of the slowdown and the recurrence of monthly losses. Whether through selective emphasis or political framing, the White House statement conflicts with the official BLS data and the broader trend in hiring.
Bottom line: The latest official numbers show weak job growth and several months of net losses; characterizing the report as 'strong' does not align with the data.
Original appeared on MS NOW.
