Labor Department Delays Jobs Report Release After Shutdown

BLS pushes back January jobs data and other economic reports due to temporary government closure.

Published on Feb. 4, 2026

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The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has announced new release dates for several key economic reports, including the January jobs report, after a partial government shutdown temporarily paused the agency's operations this week. The jobs report, initially scheduled for this Friday, will now be published next Wednesday, while other reports like the Consumer Price Index and Real Earnings will also see delays.

Why it matters

The monthly jobs report is a closely watched economic indicator that provides insights into the health of the U.S. labor market. Delays in the release of this data can create temporary information gaps for policymakers, businesses, and the public trying to assess the current state of the economy.

The details

The partial government shutdown began on Saturday after Congress failed to meet a crucial funding package deadline. The BLS was one of the agencies forced to halt operations until the government reopened on Tuesday afternoon. During the shutdown, the BLS ceased all 'data collection, processing, and dissemination.' This is not the first time a government shutdown has delayed the jobs report release - the October 2018 report was pushed back by a full month due to the previous shutdown.

  • The jobs report was initially supposed to be released this Friday, February 7, 2026.
  • The jobs report will now be published next Wednesday, February 12, 2026.
  • January's Consumer Price Index and Real Earnings reports will now be released next Friday, February 14, 2026.
  • December's Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey and Metropolitan Area Employment and Unemployment data will be released later this week.

The players

Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)

The principal fact-finding agency for the U.S. government in the broad field of labor economics and statistics.

President Trump

The former President of the United States who has previously accused BLS officials of political bias and manipulating jobs numbers.

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What they’re saying

“At the onset of the government shutdown, a BLS spokesperson said the agency ceased all 'data collection, processing, and dissemination.'”

— BLS Spokesperson

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This delay in the jobs report release highlights the impact that government shutdowns can have on the timely availability of key economic data, which is crucial for policymakers, businesses, and the public to assess the state of the labor market and broader economy.