US February Employment Statistics: Employment Declines by 92,000 from Previous Month - A Significant Drop

Recently NHK News on-line reported the following:

米 2月雇用統計 就業者は前月比9万2000人減 大幅な減少に

2026年3月6日午後10時49分

(2026年3月7日午前1時10分更新)

雇用統計

円相場や株価に影響を及ぼすアメリカの雇用統計が発表され、2月の農業分野以外の就業者は前の月から9万2000人の大幅な減少となりました。増加を見込んでいた市場予想を大きく下回り、金融市場では雇用情勢の減速への警戒感が再び強まることも予想されます。

アメリカ労働省が6日に発表した2月の雇用統計によりますと、景気の動向を敏感に示す農業分野以外の就業者は、前の月から9万2000人の大幅な減少となりました。

市場の予想では5万5000人程度の増加が見込まれていましたが、これを大きく下回り、アメリカメディアも予想外の減少と相次いで報じています。

また、失業率は前の月から0.1ポイント悪化し、4.4％でした。

専門家の間ではアメリカを襲った寒波や医療大手のストライキなどが影響した可能性があるとの指摘も出ていますが、雇用情勢が減速傾向にある可能性を示唆する内容となっていて、金融市場では、警戒感が再び強まりそうです。

今回の統計の内容などを踏まえてFRB＝連邦準備制度理事会は景気を下支えするための利下げのペースを判断していくことになりますが、アメリカなどとイランとの間の攻撃の応酬を受けて原油価格が大きく上昇していて、インフレが再加速することへの懸念も広がるなか、難しいかじ取りを迫られることになりそうです。

Translation

US February Employment Statistics: Employment Declines by 92,000 from Previous Month - A Significant Drop

Employment Statistics

The US employment statistics, which influenced the yen exchange rate and stock prices, had been released, showing a significant decrease of 92,000 non-agricultural workers in February compared to the previous month. This fell far short of market expectations, which had anticipated an increase, and was expected to rekindle concerns about a slowdown in the employment situation in financial markets.

According to the February employment statistics released by the US Department of Labor on the 6th, non-agricultural workers, a sensitive indicator of economic trends, fell sharply by 92,000 from the previous month.

Market expectations had projected an increase of around 55,000, but this figure fell significantly short, and US media were also reporting one after another that the decrease was unexpected.

Furthermore, the unemployment rate worsened by 0.1 percentage point from the previous month to 4.4%.

While some experts suggested that the cold wave that hit the US and strikes at major healthcare companies might have had an impact, the report suggested that the employment situation might be slowing down, which was likely to heighten concerns in financial markets once again.

Based on the contents of this data, the Federal Reserve would decide on the pace of interest rate cuts to support the economy, but with oil prices rising sharply due to the exchange of attacks between the US and Iran, and concerns about renewed inflation accelerating, the Federal Reserve would likely face a difficult decision.

              So, US employment statistics is showing a significant decrease of 92,000 non-agricultural workers in February compared to the previous month. This number falls far short of market expectations and may generate concerns about a slowdown in the employment situation.