Hiring might have slowed in August in face of delta variant

A stretch of robust hiring over the past several months may have slowed in August at a time when the delta variant’s spread has discouraged some Americans from flying, shopping and eating out

WASHINGTON -- A stretch of robust hiring over the past few months may have slowed in August at a time when the delta variant's spread has discouraged some Americans from flying, shopping and eating out. Economists have forecast that employers added 750,000 jobs in August, according to the data provider FactSet. That would represent a substantial gain, though below the roughly 940,000 jobs that were added in both June and July. Some analysts are more pessimistic, expecting job growth of 500,000 or less. But even many of those economists expect any hiring slowdown to be brief. They note that employers are still struggling to fill jobs to meet strengthened consumer demand and have posted a record-high number of openings. The unemployment rate is projected to have dropped in August to 5.2% from 5.4% in July. The government will issue the jobs report at 8:30 a.m. Eastern time Friday.