U.S. hiring has slowed noticeably this year as businesses hesitate in the face of sweeping economic changes introduced under President Donald Trump. Many companies are reluctant to commit to new investments or expand their workforce without a clearer sense of how policy shifts will affect long-term operations, ranging from trade actions to tax adjustments. This uncertainty contributed to job losses in both June and August, signaling a broader cooling in labor market momentum.
According to the Labor Department, the average monthly job gain for the three months ending in September was roughly 62,000, far below the pace seen in previous years of expansion. Such sluggish growth suggests that employers are proceeding cautiously, weighing potential benefits against possible risks stemming from the administration’s evolving economic agenda.
While the slowdown does not necessarily signal a downturn, it highlights how sensitive hiring decisions can be to policy direction and overall confidence in the economic outlook.
