Hiring in the US drops to pandemic lows as job market under Trump stagnates

U.S. hiring saw a significant slowdown, dropping to levels last seen during the initial phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, signaling severe stagnation in the national job market during the final stretch of the Trump administration. Recent data indicated an average private payroll growth of only 18,000 jobs per month, a figure far below the pace needed for healthy economic expansion. This sharp deceleration was primarily driven by the resurging waves of the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced new business closures and deterred consumer activity, directly impacting employer demand for labor. Underlying this immediate crisis was the broader economic uncertainty, exacerbated by shifting public health measures and a contentious political environment, collectively dampening investment and consumer confidence across various sectors.