Trump Does the Impossible on Job Creation

Private sector job growth accelerates under Trump as federal jobs decline, wages rise, and hiring expands in construction and production industries.

Published on Mar. 4, 2026

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The Trump administration has recorded impressive job numbers, with the private sector adding 615,000 jobs since Trump took office, while the federal workforce has been reduced by over 270,000 positions. This contrasts sharply with the Biden years, when a significant portion of job growth was in the public sector or government-subsidized industries. Under Trump, 100% of net job creation has occurred in the private sector, with gains concentrated among native-born Americans and in industries like construction and manufacturing.

Why it matters

The shift in the labor market structure under Trump, with private sector growth outpacing public sector expansion, reflects a fundamental change in the economy. This suggests genuine demand from Americans making real bets on the future, rather than bureaucratic expansion funded by taxpayers. It represents a move away from government-propped up job numbers towards market-driven expansion.

The details

The most recent data shows the economy added 172,000 new private sector jobs in January, far exceeding predictions. Overall, about 615,000 private-sector jobs have been added since Trump took office, while the federal workforce has been reduced by over 270,000 positions. This contrasts with the Biden years, when a significant portion of job growth was in the public sector or government-subsidized industries. Under Trump, 100% of net job creation has occurred in the private sector, with gains concentrated among native-born Americans and in industries like construction and manufacturing. Wages have also risen, with average weekly earnings increasing 4.3% since Trump took office.

  • In January 2026, the economy added 172,000 new private sector jobs.
  • Since January 2025, over 270,000 federal positions have been cut.

The players

Donald Trump

The former President of the United States who presided over the shift in the labor market structure towards private sector growth outpacing public sector expansion.

Joe Biden

The former President of the United States whose administration saw a significant portion of job growth in the public sector or government-subsidized industries.

Kamala Harris

The former Vice President who relied heavily on supposedly strong job numbers, in part fueled by natural rebound following pandemic closures, for the Biden administration's economic messaging.

Stephen Moore

An economist who observed that government employment reached a record high during the Biden years.

E.J. Antoni

An economist who noted that two-thirds of all jobs added in Biden's last year were directly or indirectly funded by taxpayer dollars, while manufacturing jobs fell.

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What they’re saying

“100 percent of the net job creation during his second term has occurred in the private sector.”

— Donald Trump (State of the Union Address)

“Government employment reached 23.1 million workers — a 'record high,' according to economist Stephen Moore.”

— Stephen Moore, Economist (amac.us)

“Two-thirds of all jobs added in Biden's last year were directly or indirectly funded by taxpayer dollars, while manufacturing [jobs] fell almost 100,000 – completely unsustainable.”

— E.J. Antoni, Economist (amac.us)

The takeaway

The shift in the labor market structure under Trump, with private sector growth outpacing public sector expansion, represents a move away from government-propped up job numbers towards market-driven expansion. This suggests genuine demand from Americans making real bets on the future, rather than bureaucratic expansion funded by taxpayers, and reflects a fundamental change in the economy.