I checked the Employment Situation news release and the U.S. Economy at a Glance summary: information payrolls, the count of tech and media jobs, dropped to 2,739,000 in September 2026. Recruiters get paid when applicants believe hiring rebounded, but shrinking payrolls leave job seekers chasing phantom openings.
Key takeaways
- The dark red line fell 10,000 in September 2026 to a low of 2,739,000, showing employers are still cutting jobs.
- From the November 2022 peak of 3,115,000, the series moved downward, leaving candidates with fewer open tech roles.
- Over the last 4 readings, payrolls moved down from 2,763,000 to 2,739,000, warning applicants that hiring has not stabilized.
- Across the 60 monthly readings since October 2021, payrolls fell from 2,938,000 to 2,739,000, prolonging the job search.
What the terms mean
- Information payrolls: Monthly tally of wage workers in software, publishing, broadcasting, and telecommunications.
- The Current Employment Statistics program: Monthly employer survey measuring jobs across industries.
- The Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey: Monthly federal count of vacancies, hires, and quits.
What to watch next
Watch for hires to rebound in the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey news release before treating flat payrolls as a recovery.