Cantwell Statement on Rising Unemployment Reflected in February Jobs Report

WASHINGTON, D.C.– Today, the Bureau of Labor Statistics released its updated jobs report for February 2026 showing that employers cut 92,000 jobs and the unemployment rate rose to 4.4% -- a sharp turn from the 126,000 increase in jobs reported in January.
U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and senior member of the Senate Finance Committee, released the following statement:
“Today’s jobs report showing a loss of 92,000 jobs in February is another troubling sign for the American worker. The economy is shedding jobs and employers are not hiring. Along with rising gas and energy costs, plus an expensive unauthorized war creating immense market uncertainty, families already stressed by the high cost of living now must worry about losing their job. This Administration made promises to working families on ‘day one’ but we are now in year two and they have not delivered.”