Why the American employment data can be mistaken

The employment growth figures of the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) are lacking this point, highlighted by the most recent data: the economy seems to have added that 73,000 jobs in July 2025, much less than expected and not enough to follow demographic growth. Adding to concern, BLS has radically revised the figures for May and June, reporting that the economy increased by 258,000 less jobs during these months than before.

The news was quickly translated by a reduction in overall employment, which aroused many concerns. But BLS figures give us an incomplete vision of jobs in America. The training statistics of US Census Bureau companies show 6.48% growth in T1 to T2 of this year. Although this does not seem to be a large number of growth, it is monumental compared to the significant reductions that were recorded last year when traditional employment growth is accelerating. Most importantly, new commercial training has become increasingly important for the economy and employment growth from the cochery, but it is widely ignored in the BLS employment report.

Jeff Stibel

Trade training and employment growth are counterweight factors in the American economy and any economic indicator must take into account the two measures, in particular given the overvoltage of new businesses from COVVID. The newly trained companies create jobs immediately for their founders and over time for other job seekers, removing people from the traditional labor market that BLS follows exclusively. This artificially inflates unemployment hypotheses.

Historically, there has been a solid relationship between economic change and entrepreneurship. The lack of traditional employment opportunities encourages people to create jobs for themselves and create a new business has never been easier. Artificial intelligence in particular has enabled individuals to launch commercial ideas with a minimum of capital, experience or risk. The easily available tools can create websites, write a copy, design graphics and logos and even find customers. AI can analyze market studies and offer pricing strategies and financial projections without being friction. This rapid change accelerates the change to independent work and the creation of micro-enterprises, not to mention an increase in the pipe, advice and “side jostles”. Marketwatch reported in April 2025 that 51% of Americans have a stampede, the youngest participants in the country’s workforce leading the charge – 72% of generation Z reporting a parallel stampede during the last year. People entering the labor market massively pursuing alternative jobs and individuals who withdraw by the workforce leaving traditional jobs behind him, changes in the type of job should not surprise us or alarm us; Rather, we must follow and incorporate these changes into our thoughts and analyzes. Although unconventional jobs can be non -traditional, they are nevertheless real jobs, with a significant economic impact.

Jeff Stibel

Traditional work statistics are built on obsolete employment models. As the nature of the work changes, we need more modern methods to precisely assess the true health of the economy. A more complete measure would integrate a diversity of data sources, in particular new commercial registrations and an independent platform activity, in addition to probe the largest companies and households. With an extended palette, we could color a more precise image of the dynamics of modern work.

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