The Bureau of Labor Statistics would suspend operations entirely, delaying highly-anticipated jobs figures scheduled for Friday, a Labor Department plan says.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., talks to reporters as he departs for a meeting with President Donald Trump and the top four congressional leaders to discuss the government funding crisis, at the Capitol in Washington, Monday, Sept.
29, 2025. Highly anticipated jobs numbers for September will not come out if there is a government shutdown this week, according to plans published by the Labor Department. The plans, dated Sept. 26 and posted on the department’s website, say that the Bureau of Labor Statistics will “suspend all operations” if the federal government closes at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday. Economists and policymakers have been counting on September jobs figures set for release Friday morning, especially given concerns that the labor market is slowing down. “Economic data that are scheduled to be released during the lapse will not be released,” the plans read. “All active data collection activities for BLS surveys will cease.” The document also says if a shutdown is “prolonged,” other releases of economic data could be delayed. That could mean government data gets less reliable; the plans note that a drop in the “quality of data collected” might wear on the quality of future estimates, too. Betsey Stevenson, who was the Labor Department’s chief economist from 2010 to 2011 and is now at the University of Michigan, said this week’s jobs figures would typically be wrapped up earlier in the week and could presumably get out the door. But data collection isn’t considered so necessary that it must be done even when the rest of the government is shut down. Still, such information is crucial for a broader understanding - among central bankers and business owners alike - of how the economy is faring, where the unemployment rate stands and how the stock market should set expectations, Stevenson said.The White House has put unprecedented pressure on the BLS this year. President Donald Trump fired Commissioner Erika McEntarfer after a large revision to job growth figures over the summer. “We know if you’re already splitting at the seams, you can’t add any extra pressure,” Stevenson said. BLS spokesperson Stacey Standish confirmed that the bureau would “suspend data collection, processing, and dissemination” in the event of a shutdown. Once funding is restored, the BLS would resume normal operations and publicize any changes to the normal release reschedule. A freeze could affect a range of metrics, including key inflation data to be released in mid-October. The plans say delays to October inflation data could impact the cost of living adjustment announcement by the Social Security Administration. The Federal Reserve also relies on federal jobs data to set interest rates and would usually lean heavily on the September figures going into policymakers’ meeting next month. Republican and Democratic leaders are set to meet with Trump on Monday afternoon, but so far, talks are at a standstill. If Congress doesn’t agree on a funding extension, spending laws will expire and the federal government will shrink down to work that is necessary only to protect life or public property. Trump, Netanyahu say they’ve agreed to peace deal to end Gaza war. It’s unclear whether Hamas will accept termsRussian drone and missile attack on Ukraine kills at least 4 people and wounds 70Trump, Netanyahu say they’ve agreed to peace deal to end Gaza war. It’s unclear whether Hamas will accept terms
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