WASHINGTON — The United States lost 92,000 jobs in February, while the unemployment rate rose to 4.4%, according to data released Friday by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, marking an unexpected setback for the labor market.
Economists had forecast a gain of about 60,000 jobs, according to a survey by FactSet. Instead, the report showed the third month of job losses in the past five months.
The decline in February came partly from the health care sector, which lost 28,000 jobs. The U.S. Department of Labor attributed the drop in part to strike activity, including a nurses’ strike in California that ended late last month.
Analysts said factors such as labor strikes and winter storms may have affected hiring data for the month. Economists also noted that the government revised earlier figures, lowering January job growth by 4,000 and December growth by 65,000.
Recent data shows slower hiring overall. Employers added an average of 181,000 jobs in 2025, the lowest annual increase since 2020.
Economists said the weaker report adds uncertainty to the economic outlook and could complicate decisions by the Federal Reserve. The central bank must weigh whether to cut interest rates to support hiring while managing inflation pressures linked to rising energy prices.
Oil prices have climbed amid the ongoing conflict involving Iran, with Brent crude reaching about $90 per barrel. Analysts said higher energy costs could push inflation higher while the labor market shows signs of slowing.
The Federal Reserve is scheduled to announce its next interest rate decision on March 18.
