US labor market

US stock futures pointed higher, with S&P 500 futures rising as investors brace for upcoming jobs data. Traders are on edge about what the labor market numbers could signal for the Federal Reserve's interest rate path, making the report a key driver of near-term market direction.

Upcoming US employment and inflation figures are set to be a major test for the Federal Reserve's interest rate path and for signs of underlying economic strength, according to Reuters. Investors and policymakers will be watching closely to see whether labor market resilience and price pressures shape expectations for further rate moves.

S&P 500 futures are rising as traders position themselves ahead of key US economic releases, including the jobs report and the PCE inflation gauge. The two data sets will shape expectations for Federal Reserve interest rate policy, with investors looking for signs of cooling inflation and a labor market that could allow the central bank to ease borrowing costs in coming months.

Markets and homebuyers are watching a busy week of US economic releases, with September housing data, home price figures, and the monthly jobs report all due. Analysts will be looking for signs of whether mortgage rates and home prices may ease, and whether the labor market is cooling enough to influence the Federal Reserve's next policy moves.

Teamsters representing workers at Phillips 66 have voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike, according to the union and reports in financial media. The authorization gives union negotiators the power to call a work stoppage if contract talks fail, though a walkout is not automatic. A strike could disrupt operations at the energy company's refineries and facilities.

US job openings fell to 7.1 million in August, a fresh sign of cooling demand for workers, while Congress moved to retire the penny, ending more than a century of one-cent coin production. Together the two items capture a US economy wobbling on the jobs front even as Washington reshapes everyday currency. The jobless-side numbers are being read as further evidence the labor market is losing steam.

The newest Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey indicates the US labor market remains stuck in a low-hire, low-fire pattern, with employers keeping headcount steady rather than expanding or cutting. Commentators say the data confirms a sluggish hiring environment that persists despite broader economic uncertainty, leaving workers with fewer new opportunities but relative job stability.

US stocks ended slightly lower on Tuesday as long-term Treasury yields continued rising, pressured by declining oil prices and signals that Federal Reserve officials remain in no hurry to cut interest rates. Investors are positioning ahead of upcoming inflation and labor market data, which could shape expectations for the Fed's next moves.

A new report warns that artificial intelligence could force around 11 million US workers to change careers by 2035, as automation reshapes demand across white-collar and service jobs. The finding is drawing attention because it puts a concrete number on how quickly AI adoption could disrupt the American labor market over the next decade.

McKinsey warns that the transition to an AI-driven economy could force around 11 million American workers to change careers by 2035. The consulting firm says the shift will demand extensive retraining and adaptation as automation reshapes job roles across sectors. The forecast is prompting discussion about how workers, employers and policymakers should prepare for large-scale workforce disruption.