.
Roben Farzad and Geoff Bennett sit across a desk in the PBS News Hour studio during an interview about the economy.

Geoff Bennett interviews Roben Farzad, host of "Full Disclosure," about a surprisingly strong August jobs report and what it signals for the economy. Photo: PBS NewsHour

US Jobs Market Strong Despite Inflation and Global Pressure

September 10, 2026

US Jobs Market Strong Despite Inflation and Global Pressure

The U.S. added 162,000 jobs in August, far more than economists expected, even as inflation and global pressures mount. Students explore what a "no hire, no fire" economy means and why many workers still feel squeezed.

Share

Share On Facebook
Share On Twitter
Share On Pinterest
Share On LinkedIn
Share On Microsoft Teams
Email
PBS News Hour Classroom
PBS News Hour Classroom
Follow

The job market delivered a surprising rebound in August, adding 162,000 jobs, far more than economists had expected. The unemployment rate held steady at 4.1%, and the Labor Department revised July numbers upward. The stronger-than-expected report comes as the Federal Reserve is set to weigh interest rates. Geoff Bennett discussed more with Roben Farzad, host of "Full Disclosure."

View the transcript of the story.

NOTE: If you are short on time, watch the video and complete this See, Think, Wonder activity: What did you notice? What did the story make you think about? What would you want to learn more about?

Warm-Up Questions

  1. How did the job market surprise economists in August?
  2. Who is Roben Farzad, and what is his background?
  3. Where were the strongest gains in employment, according to Farzad?
  4. Why is the economy not as appealing to the working class, according to Farzad?
  5. What are some of the reasons that economists are uncertain about the future job market, according to Fazad?

Essential Questions

  • In this segment, Roben Farzad says that we are in a "no hire, no fire economy." What do you think he means by this? What does it mean for employed workers looking for a new job? What does it mean for unemployed workers looking for a job?
  • Have you noticed the impact of inflation in your own life? If so, how?
  • Media literacy: Examine the infographic below. Then as a class, discuss — why do you think this information was included in the segment? What seems to be the source of information? Why do you think the number is so low, despite positive reports around employment numbers?

Economist/YouGov poll graphic: only 23% of U.S. adults describe the current economy as excellent or good (polled Aug. 28–31, 2026).

What Students Can Do

According to the Economist/YouGov poll cited in the infographic above, only 23% of adults describe the economy as excellent or good. But how does that compare to attitudes toward the economy in other recent years? As a class, take a look at this polling tracker from YouGov that goes back to 2009 (roughly the start of Barack Obama's presidency). After familiarizing yourself with the tracker, as a class, discuss:

  • How do current attitudes about the economy compare to other points in the recent past?
  • What do you think caused some of the most significant spikes in pessimism about the economy?
  • Based on historical trends, do you expect pessimism about the economy to go up or down in coming months?

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Want to see more stories like this one? Subscribe to the SML e-newsletter!

Sign Up Here.

Republished with permission from PBS News Hour Classroom.

PBS News Hour Classroom
PBS News Hour Classroom helps teachers and students identify the who, what, where and why-it-matters of the major national and international news stories. The site combines the best of News Hour's reliable, trustworthy news program with lesson plans developed specifically for... See More
Advertisement

Post a comment

Log in or sign up to post a comment.