The U.S. Nonfarm Payrolls (NFP) is a key indicator from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ (BLS) monthly Employment Situation Report, measuring the change in the number of jobs added or lost in the non-agricultural sector during the previous month, excluding farmers, self-employed individuals, private household employees, nonprofit organization workers, and certain government employees. It serves as a critical gauge of the U.S. labor market’s health and economic activity, typically released on the first Friday of each month, covering metrics such as job growth, unemployment rate, average hourly earnings, and labor force participation rate.

NFP data is a vital reference for the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy decisions, with its strength directly impacting interest rate expectations, the U.S. dollar exchange rate, and global financial market volatility. Higher-than-expected data is generally bullish for the USD, signaling a robust economy and increased consumer spending, while lower-than-expected data is bearish, indicating economic weakness and affecting market confidence.