Nonfarm Payrolls 2026
Complete schedule of all US Nonfarm Payrolls (NFP) jobs reports in 2026. Track release dates, consensus forecasts, actual vs estimate results, and real-time QQQ & SPY market reactions.
2026 NFP Release Schedule
Yellow = consensus estimate. Green/Red actual = beat/miss vs estimate. Jobs data in thousands (K).
What is the Nonfarm Payrolls Report?
The Nonfarm Payrolls (NFP) report, formally the Employment Situation Summary, is published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) on the first Friday of every month at 8:30 AM ET. It measures the net change in paid US workers across all non-farm businesses and is one of the single most market-moving economic data releases in the world.
Why NFP matters for QQQ and SPY investors
NFP data is a primary input for Federal Reserve rate decisions. A labor market that's too strong risks wage-driven inflation, keeping the Fed hawkish and rates elevated — a headwind for tech-heavy QQQ. Conversely, labor market weakness increases the probability of Fed rate cuts, historically a tailwind for growth stocks. Markets often react within seconds of the 8:30 AM ET release.
Key components to watch in the NFP report
- ›Headline NFP number — total net job additions (excl. farm, government, household workers)
- ›Unemployment Rate (U-3) — percentage of labor force actively seeking work
- ›Average Hourly Earnings (AHE) — wage growth, the key inflation proxy in the report
- ›Average Weekly Hours — a leading indicator of labor demand
- ›Labor Force Participation Rate — measures how many working-age Americans are in the workforce
- ›Prior month revision — often significant and can flip the market narrative
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the next Nonfarm Payrolls (NFP) report in 2026?
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) releases the Employment Situation Summary (NFP) on the first Friday of each month at 8:30 AM ET. The exact dates for all 2026 reports are listed in the schedule above.
What is the Nonfarm Payrolls report?
The Nonfarm Payrolls report, officially called the Employment Situation Summary, is released by the BLS and measures the change in total paid US workers excluding farm employees, government workers, and a few other categories. It is one of the most market-moving economic indicators.
How does the NFP report affect stock prices?
A stronger-than-expected NFP print signals a healthy economy, which can be bullish for equities in isolation. However, it can also cause bond yields to rise if markets interpret it as inflationary — pressuring QQQ and SPY valuations. A weak jobs report may fuel rate-cut expectations, sometimes boosting tech stocks.
What is a "hot" vs "cool" NFP reading?
A "hot" NFP report exceeds consensus estimates significantly (e.g., +300K vs +180K expected), potentially pushing the Fed to stay hawkish. A "cool" report misses estimates and signals labor market softness, increasing the probability of Fed rate cuts — typically bullish for long-duration growth stocks like those in QQQ.
What other employment data should I watch alongside NFP?
Complement NFP with: Unemployment Rate (U-3), Average Hourly Earnings (wage inflation proxy), Average Weekly Hours, JOLTS Job Openings (released ~month prior), ADP National Employment Report (released two days before NFP), and Initial Jobless Claims (weekly).