Why are the DOGE firings not showing in the monthly jobs reports?

[spanone]

U.S. payrolls increased 139,000 in May, more than expected; unemployment at 4.2%

Hiring decreased just slightly in May even as consumers and companies braced against tariffs and a potentially slowing economy, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Friday.

Nonfarm payrolls rose 139,000 for the month, above the muted Dow Jones estimate for 125,000 and the downwardly revised 147,000 that the U.S. economy added in April.

The unemployment rate held steady at 4.2%.

Worker pay grew more than expected, with average hourly earnings up 0.4% during the month and 3.9% from a year ago, compared to respective forecasts for 0.3% and 3.7%.

https://www.cnbc.com/2025/06/06/jobs-report-may-2025.html

[UpInArms]

1. Because they were furloughed with pay

and it won’t show up until that pay stops

[bucolic_frolic]

2. Agree, DOGE layoffs were big numbers

I did read that companies are not laying off because they see uncertainty, and don't want to be caught without workers ... so reduced hours, extra projects instead.

[travelingthrulife]

3. I find it unbelievable that people would be hiring right now with all that uncertainty.

[Wiz Imp]

4. It has to do with how the OPM reports Federal employment data to BLS

I would have expected the data to show a bigger drop in Federal employment by now, but apparently most f the laid off employees have not been considered "officially" separated yet. Eventually those job losses will show up and it won't be pretty.


Oh, and CNBC needs a new proofreader:

Nonfarm payrolls rose 139,000 for the month, above the muted Dow Jones estimate for 125,000 and the downwardly revised 147,000 that the U.S. economy added in April.

139,000 is NOT above 147,000.

[newdeal2]

6. Probably AI

And lack of investment in real journalism in general.

[doc03]

5. Can any numbers out of the Trump Misadministration be believed? Trump always

said Obama cooked the books, claiming unemployment was 20% or more. If Trump accuses someone else of
something guaranteed he is doing it or working on it.

[MaeScott]

8. Remember he's Don the Con. Believe no data from this administration.

[Fiendish Thingy]

9. Many of the layoffs were reversed by the courts

And the employees were reinstated in their positions.

[Indykatie]

10. Another Factor That Impact Unemployment is Severance Packages

Big companies have laid off many many people. They won't be in the UE numbers until they file their initial UE claim after their paid severance period runs out. Off topic but I've seen stories saying Fed UE claims are initially denied since they are shown as being for "performance issues". Worse, their appeals are not being finalized because the Administration won't respond. Their appeals can't get a judicial review without this response. The Feds know they will lose these appeals so they are just being cruel.

The link below tracks layoffs or planned layoffs in any given
https://intellizence.com/insights/layoff-downsizing/major-companies-that-announced-mass-layoffs/

[Rebl2]

11. I don't

consider 139,000 payroll increase all that great. If this had been under the Biden administration they would be saying the numbers are horrible!

[UTUSN]

13. K&R