U.S. economy lost 23,000 jobs in July, a sudden reversal • Hacker News Board

Re: U.S. economy lost 23,000 jobs in July, a sudden reversal

#101

Post by thehappypm » Fri, Aug 07, 2026, 2:35 PM UTC

gruez wrote: post #82

GoofGarage wrote: post #72

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Indeed. Something to note is the labor force participation rate keeps dropping. We’re down to 61.4%. It was 61.5% in June 2026, 62.3% in June 2025. We also have 4.8 million that are part-time employed, but want full-time work. That’s up from 4.7 million last month, and up from 4.5 million in June 2025, and up further from 4.2 million in June 2024. There’s also 6.0 million that want a job, but aren’t employed. This is…

>Indeed. Something to note is the labor force participation rate keeps dropping. We’re down to 61.4%. It was 61.5% in June 2026, 62.3% in June 2025. Yes, it's called people getting older and retiring. It's pretty obvious that's the cause if you compare the labor force participation rate overall vs for 25-54 year olds. https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/CIVPART https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/LNS11300060

Also net population loss of working age adults via deportation and self deportation.

Re: U.S. economy lost 23,000 jobs in July, a sudden reversal

#102

Post by diego_moita » Fri, Aug 07, 2026, 2:35 PM UTC

shin_lao wrote: post #33

1over137 wrote: post #28

Meanwhile Canada added 75,000 new jobs in July. Perhaps Trump's tariff scheme is not working so well after all. https://www.cbc.ca/lite/story/9.7299225

[flagged]

You dropped the "/s".

Re: U.S. economy lost 23,000 jobs in July, a sudden reversal

#103

Post by neutronicus » Fri, Aug 07, 2026, 2:37 PM UTC

eigenspace wrote: post #85

nprz wrote: post #57

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Wealthy, aging boomers with increasing need for health care, makes sense.

It's not just boomers (though they are the biggest part of it). Americans of all ages are spending more on healthcare, and seeking more healthcare interventions than in previous decades.

I'm sure ADHD medications / antidepressants / GLP-1s are huge drivers.

Re: U.S. economy lost 23,000 jobs in July, a sudden reversal

#104

Post by not_a_bot_4sho » Fri, Aug 07, 2026, 2:39 PM UTC

m-hodges wrote: post #73

jimmydoe wrote: post #50

govt is resetting the baseline now, so we will see some good numbers in November. it's all about optics for mid term.

No. Very bad economic numbers in August before a midterm is not a cunning political optics move.

I'm surprised by the conspiratorial comments here like this is some sort of 4D chess move. *It's not.*

This is chickens coming home to roost from US actions in Iran, with tariffs, and other things introducing economic uncertainty.

As you alluded to; this is terrible for Republicans in power. And quite useful for Democrats.

Re: U.S. economy lost 23,000 jobs in July, a sudden reversal

#105

Post by astro1234 » Fri, Aug 07, 2026, 2:40 PM UTC

As a data scientist it is very frustrating to see a consistent lack of error bars on these numbers or any discussion about the magnitude of uncertainty around them by all news reports every time these numbers get released

Re: U.S. economy lost 23,000 jobs in July, a sudden reversal

#106

Post by Noaidi » Fri, Aug 07, 2026, 2:40 PM UTC

ethagnawl wrote: post #35

And, as a result, the market is ... up?

The market is going up because the market (AI) thinks it means there will be a rate cut. Which is good for stocks.

But I have to inform you all that we are in a period of stagflation and there is no way out but pain for someone. Either the asset holders or the regular people who need to buy things.

Re: U.S. economy lost 23,000 jobs in July, a sudden reversal

#107

Post by mapping365 » Fri, Aug 07, 2026, 2:40 PM UTC

I love how this is immediately used as an excuse to reinflate the AI bubble. Silicon Valley and Wall Street are just begging for backlash.

Re: U.S. economy lost 23,000 jobs in July, a sudden reversal

#108

Post by Varelion » Fri, Aug 07, 2026, 2:40 PM UTC

Who actually believes these numbers?

Re: U.S. economy lost 23,000 jobs in July, a sudden reversal

#109

Post by asa123 » Fri, Aug 07, 2026, 2:40 PM UTC

toomuchtodo wrote: post #98

eru wrote: post #93

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You can move to Singapore, if you want a better healthcare sector. (The UK spends very roughly half of what the US spends on healthcare in terms of percentage of GDP. That's total (public plus private) expenditure. Singapore spends very roughtly half of what the UK spends by the same measure. Health outcomes amongst the three countries are comparable. If anything, Singapore is healthier.)

Europe is also excellent in my experience, specifically Portugal and Spain. My health insurance cost for a family of four in Spain is ~$2k/year as someone on a visa. In the US on an employer plan, it was ~$20k/year (premiums, copays, etc).

I think the commenter you responded to filtered first for countries with outcomes better or exceeding the US? Though I’m not sure Portugal and Spain automatically fall into that category

Re: U.S. economy lost 23,000 jobs in July, a sudden reversal

#110

Post by kevin_thibedeau » Fri, Aug 07, 2026, 2:40 PM UTC

eru wrote: post #93

glaslong wrote: post #66

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So perhaps we'll never get to a better healthcare+insurance market (nee "Free") through government, but eventually we will just all work in healthcare, and barter our nursing and dental skills in secret away from the insurance coders.

You can move to Singapore, if you want a better healthcare sector. (The UK spends very roughly half of what the US spends on healthcare in terms of percentage of GDP. That's total (public plus private) expenditure. Singapore spends very roughtly half of what the UK spends by the same measure. Health outcomes amongst the three countries are comparable. If anything, Singapore is healthier.)

Singapore has severe consequences for executives who violate the public trust. That makes it hard for sociopaths to rig the system for the elites.