Bulwark Takes The DOGE Job Cuts Finally Hit and the Jobs Report Is BAD
Dec 16, 2025
Catherine Rampell, an insightful opinion writer and economic expert, joins Sam Stein to dissect a lackluster jobs report revealing deeper economic issues. They delve into the alarming trend of manufacturing job losses and discuss potential distortions in data collection. Rampell highlights the Federal Reserve's concerns about overstated payrolls and examines how AI might disrupt white-collar jobs disproportionately. They also propose the need for retraining and safety nets to aid those affected by these shifts.
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Labor Market Is Losing Momentum
- October jobs data showed only 64,000 new jobs and a 4.6% unemployment rate, the highest in four years. Wage growth slowed to about 3.5%, barely outpacing inflation.
Revisions Mask Real Job Losses
- October revisions subtracted 105,000 jobs largely from federal buyouts and departures. Revisions show the headline monthly numbers can hide significant backdated losses.
Manufacturing Is In Recession
- Manufacturing has lost jobs for seven consecutive months, signaling a sectoral recession. This contradicts political claims of a manufacturing renaissance.