AI Data Insight
According to the latest data, the number of persons not in the labor force in the US in September 2026 (Q4 2026) fell to 149.99 million, a decrease of approximately 293,000 from the 152.92 million recorded in the previous month. Although the new nonfarm payrolls for the month underperformed consensus expectations, the significant reduction in the population not in the labor force drove the labor force participation rate back up to 61.8%, indicating that the supply side of the labor market is recovering, which in turn helps alleviate wage inflation risks.