The Fact
The monthly payroll survey counts nonfarm payroll jobs, not unique people. A person working multiple jobs at different establishments is counted once at each establishment. By contrast, the household survey counts an employed person only once even if they hold multiple jobs.
What This Means
A headline saying the economy “added jobs” refers to payroll positions, not necessarily the same number of additional people becoming employed.
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Comparing Employment from the Household and Payroll Surveys; CES Frequently Asked Questions. Accessed October 2, 2026. https://www.bls.gov/web/empsit/ces_cps.htm