how jobs growth is measured
the bls compiles job growth data by surveying about 122 000 businesses and government agencies accounting for about 20 of total u s nonfarm employment the employment situation summary provides data from this establishment survey tracking nonfarm employment by industry as well as a separate household survey of employment status the two surveys provide headline making figures on job growth and unemployment 3although nonfarm payrolls are subtotaled by industry the most commonly reported number is the net change in u s payrolls from the preceding month which estimates the number of jobs added outside the agricultural sector farm employment is excluded from the establishment survey because it is too seasonal and harder to estimate 4because of how important it is to the economy jobs growth is closely watched by the federal reserve as it makes changes to its monetary policy 5