It might be a moment of hush before chaos ensues, or it may be business as usual.

U.S. employers added 151,000 jobs in February, the first full month under the new Trump administration, the Labor Department reported on Friday. The gain extended a streak of job growth to 50 months. The unemployment rate ticked up slightly, to 4.1 percent, from 4 percent in January.

Nisha and I spent a college summer abroad in India together, two 19-year-olds thirsty for knowledge. In rickshaws, buses and trains we explored our hopes, dreams (and fantasies) against the seductive backdrop of the land of our ancestors. Twenty-four years, two spouses and five children later, unknown to each other we both decided to pursue masters degrees at the exact same time. We graduated within one week of one another and decided to celebrate in London and Paris, two 40-something-women, still thirsty for knowledge, still on buses and trains, still with hopes and dreams (and some fantasies). Still together. — Milli Shah Bhashyam

The report showed a decline of 10,000 in federal employment. But it was based on surveys conducted in the second week of February, as the Trump administration’s mass firings, buyouts and hiring freezes at federal agencies were still unfolding.

The survey has likely not registered “more than a sliver of the full impact from federal government layoffs,” said Preston Caldwell, chief U.S. economist at Morningstar. “That should change in next month’s job report.”

The monthly change in federal government jobs.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

By The New York Times

A similar waiting game is in store for those hoping to ascertain the effects that President Trump’s tariffs — those imposed and those still threatened — may have on global trading partners, business investment and employment.

Even without the shake-up in foreign trade and federal employment, private-sector hiring has slowed substantially from the blowout pace of 2021 to 2023. That has left labor market analysts and financial commentators gearing up for a potential cooling in economic growth this year.

Unemployment rate

2

4

6

tht4

8

10

12

14%

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

4.1%

Note: Data is seasonally adjusted.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

By Karl Russell

Change in jobs in February 2025, by sector

fef777 Cassinos ao Vivo Brasil

Education and health

+73,000 jobs

Construction

+19,000

Government

+11,000

Manufacturing

+10,000

Business services

–2,000

Retail

–6,300

Leisure and hospitality

–16,000

Note: Data is seasonally adjusted.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

By Karl Russell

Are you a federal worker? We want to hear from you.

The Times would like to hear about your experience as a federal worker under the second Trump administration. We may reach out about your submission, but we will not publish any part of your response without contacting you first.

We are having trouble retrieving the article content.

Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings.

Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for all of The Times.

Thank you for your patience while we verify access.

Already a subscriber? Log in.

Want all of The Times? Subscribe.sacijogo