Nonfarm Payrolls (NFP)
Definition
A U.S. measure of paid jobs at nonfarm establishments, based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics payroll survey.
The monthly U.S. report estimates jobs based on a survey of employers, with coverage that includes many private businesses and government agencies. Headline coverage usually focuses on how many jobs were added or lost. Earlier estimates can be revised as more employers report.
Example
The U.S. payroll survey estimates 150,000 more nonfarm jobs than last month. Someone working two payroll jobs can be counted twice.
United States
What does the U.S. jobs report count?
Nonfarm payrolls count jobs on employer payrolls outside agriculture and certain other categories. Someone holding two covered payroll jobs can count twice. The unemployment rate comes from a separate household survey that counts people.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics employment report