The U.S. job market hit a rough patch in August 2025, with employers adding a mere 22,000 jobs, far below expectations of 75,000. This sluggish performance, coupled with a slight uptick in the unemployment rate to 4.3%—the highest since 2021—signals a deepening slowdown in the world’s largest economy. Revised data delivered a further blow, revealing a net loss of 13,000 jobs in June, the first decline since December 2020, ending a historic streak of employment growth. Sectoral Struggles and Bright Spots The labor market’s uneven performance was starkly evident across industries. Health care and social assistance led with a robust 46,800 new jobs, driven by gains in ambulatory services, hospitals, and nursing facilities. Leisure and hospitality added 28,000 positions, with...