The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported a loss of 23,000 jobs in July, well below economists' expectations of about 83,000–95,000 and following steep downward revisions to May and June. CNN analyst Harry Enten's aggregated polling shows President Trump’s net approval on jobs at -22 points, a 31-point drop since January 2025. Gallup found 63% of Americans now say it's a bad time to find a quality job, while just 33% say it's a good time. The White House emphasized gains in manufacturing and low unemployment claims in response.
Polls Deal a Blow to Trump's Economic Standing as U.S. Loses 23,000 Jobs in July
President Donald Trump's economic skills have been questioned. / Dennis Schneidler / IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
New polling data and a weak government jobs report have delivered a public rebuke to President Donald Trump on the economic credentials he often touts.
Official figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) show the United States lost 23,000 jobs in July, well below economists' forecasts of roughly 83,000–95,000 new jobs for the month. The July numbers also follow sharp downward revisions to earlier months: June payroll gains were revised from 57,000 to 20,000, and May's gains were cut from an initial 129,000 to 66,000.
CNN's Harry Enten shares bad news for President Trump. / CNN
Polling Underscores Political Risk
CNN data analyst Harry Enten posted aggregated polling that highlights growing public doubt about the president's handling of jobs. Enten's compilation, which includes Reuters/Ipsos data, puts President Trump's net approval on jobs at minus 22 points — a roughly 31-point decline from January 2025, when his net approval on jobs was reported at +9.
"My goodness gracious," Enten said, noting the polling shows Trump's approval on jobs "has really taken a tumble" between terms. "Right now, President Trump, when it comes to jobs, is very much, dare I say, in the red."
Enten also highlighted Gallup data from April showing 63% of Americans said it was a bad time to find a quality job — up from 45% in January 2025 — while those saying it was a good time fell to 33% from 48%.
Harry Enten weighs in on America's grim view on job hunting. / CNN
Where Jobs Were Lost and Why
The BLS reported most losses came from local government and the hospitality and leisure sectors. The decline in hospitality employment was notable given the U.S. hosted the soccer World Cup last month, an event that typically boosts tourist-driven hiring.
Analysts pointed to several contributing factors for the softer-than-expected labor market data, including renewed tariffs and higher input costs driven by rising gas prices and the economic impacts of ongoing geopolitical conflict.
Administration Response
The Daily Beast said it contacted the White House for comment. A White House spokesperson told The Daily Beast last week: "The Trump industrial resurgence is on schedule. Manufacturing and factory construction jobs grew again in July even as government payrolls continued to significantly shrink. Unemployment claims are at record lows."
As the midterm elections approach, both the raw jobs data and public sentiment polls could prove politically consequential, underscoring how fragile perceptions of the economy remain.
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