Early indicators suggest the U.S. job market may be weakening ahead of February’s employment report, with analysts expecting 170,000 new payrolls compared to January’s 143,000.
Trump’s economic policies, including tariff threats and federal job cuts through Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), are creating uncertainty.
Recent data shows February job cuts reached their highest level since mid-2020, while ADP reported only 77,000 private sector jobs added last month—far below the 148,000 forecast.
Meanwhile, major retailers warn they’ll likely pass tariff costs to consumers, adding to economic concerns.