Non-Farm Payrolls is one of the most important market reports. How to read it and use in trading?
Non-Farm Payrolls (NFP) is a monthly report published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. It shows the number of new jobs created in the US non-agricultural sector. Published every first Friday of the month at 8:30 AM EST.
NFP is the primary indicator of US labor market health. The Fed uses it for interest rate decisions. For forex, it is one of the highest-volatility moments of the month.
Headline number: Employment change (e.g. +180K). Compare with analyst consensus.
Unemployment rate: Current level vs previous month.
Average hourly earnings: Important inflation indicator.
Revisions: Changes to previous months' data - often ignored but very important.
On accounts with news trading restrictions (e.g. BrightFunded - 10 min window, Blue Guardian - 5 min), avoid opening positions right before NFP.
A better approach is waiting 15-30 minutes after release and trading the continuation move once the initial price shock passes.
Next NFP report: April 4, 2026. Mark your calendar.
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