Scott Simon

Listen to Trump's Terms from NPR.

Listen to Trump's Terms from NPR.

Listen to Trump's Terms from NPR.

Well, the monthly jobs report is always based on a survey that's taken around the middle of the month. And that timing is important here because a lot of the federal government job cuts began around the 14th of February, a Friday, which some people referred to as the St. Valentine's Day massacre. Yeah.

Well, the monthly jobs report is always based on a survey that's taken around the middle of the month. And that timing is important here because a lot of the federal government job cuts began around the 14th of February, a Friday, which some people referred to as the St. Valentine's Day massacre. Yeah.

Well, the monthly jobs report is always based on a survey that's taken around the middle of the month. And that timing is important here because a lot of the federal government job cuts began around the 14th of February, a Friday, which some people referred to as the St. Valentine's Day massacre. Yeah.

People who got their walking papers that Friday are still counted as employed in this February jobs report. The overall report actually shows somewhat more job growth in February than the month before when cold, snowy weather was blanketing much of the country and keeping a lot of construction workers idle, for example.

People who got their walking papers that Friday are still counted as employed in this February jobs report. The overall report actually shows somewhat more job growth in February than the month before when cold, snowy weather was blanketing much of the country and keeping a lot of construction workers idle, for example.

People who got their walking papers that Friday are still counted as employed in this February jobs report. The overall report actually shows somewhat more job growth in February than the month before when cold, snowy weather was blanketing much of the country and keeping a lot of construction workers idle, for example.

But even though the report looks pretty good on the surface, there are some warning signs out there.

But even though the report looks pretty good on the surface, there are some warning signs out there.

But even though the report looks pretty good on the surface, there are some warning signs out there.

When you look below the surface, what are the warning signs that you see? Yeah, the outplacement firm Challenger Gray and Christmas keeps a running tally of layoff notices, and its count for February shows the biggest job cuts since 2020, which is the early months of the pandemic.

When you look below the surface, what are the warning signs that you see? Yeah, the outplacement firm Challenger Gray and Christmas keeps a running tally of layoff notices, and its count for February shows the biggest job cuts since 2020, which is the early months of the pandemic.

When you look below the surface, what are the warning signs that you see? Yeah, the outplacement firm Challenger Gray and Christmas keeps a running tally of layoff notices, and its count for February shows the biggest job cuts since 2020, which is the early months of the pandemic.

Andrew Challenger says there were 172,000 layoffs announced last month, and that includes more than 62,000 in the federal government.

Andrew Challenger says there were 172,000 layoffs announced last month, and that includes more than 62,000 in the federal government.

Andrew Challenger says there were 172,000 layoffs announced last month, and that includes more than 62,000 in the federal government.

Now, the official jobs report today shows just 10,000 federal jobs cut last month, which we know is a fraction of the real total. We also know the Trump administration is considering much more widespread layoffs as it seeks to radically downsize the federal workforce.

Now, the official jobs report today shows just 10,000 federal jobs cut last month, which we know is a fraction of the real total. We also know the Trump administration is considering much more widespread layoffs as it seeks to radically downsize the federal workforce.