Jobs report, Services PMI among key economic data due Friday

As traders approach another pivotal day for financial markets, a series of crucial economic data releases that could sway market dynamics are expected on Friday, April 3, 2026. The monthly jobs report will take center stage, alongside key labor market indicators and the Services PMI reading. These releases will provide fresh insights into the health of the U.S. economy and labor market conditions, offering market participants critical information as they assess the economic trajectory heading into the second quarter.

Major Economic Events to Watch

• 7:30 AM ET: Nonfarm Payrolls (Forecast:65K, Previous: -92K) - Measures the change in the number of people employed during the previous month, excluding the farming industry, serving as the foremost indicator of consumer spending.

• 7:30 AM ET: Unemployment Rate (Forecast:4.4%, Previous: 4.4%) - Measures the percentage of the total work force that is unemployed and actively seeking employment during the previous month.

• 7:30 AM ET: Average Hourly Earnings (Forecast:0.3%, Previous: 0.4%) - Measures the change in the price businesses pay for labor, not including the agricultural sector.

• 8:45 AM ET: Services PMI (Forecast:51.1, Previous: 51.7) - Based on surveys of over 400 executives in private sector service companies covering transport, communication, financial intermediaries, business services, computing, IT, hotels and restaurants.

Other Important Economic Events to Watch

• 7:30 AM ET: Private Nonfarm Payrolls (Forecast:73K, Previous: -86K) - Measures the change in the number of total paid U.S. workers of any business, excluding general government employees, private household employees, employees of nonprofit organizations and farm employees.

• 7:30 AM ET: Average Hourly Earnings (Forecast:3.8%, Previous: 3.8%) - Year-over-year measure of wage growth in the U.S. economy.

• 7:30 AM ET: Participation Rate (Previous:62.0%) - Measures the share of the working-age population either working or looking for work, serving as an important indicator of the supply of labor.

• 8:45 AM ET: S&P Global Composite PMI (Forecast:51.4, Previous: 51.9) - Monthly economic indicator that measures the performance of the private sector by combining data from both manufacturing and service industries.

• 2:30 PM ET: CFTC Gold Speculative Positions (Previous:168.3K) - Weekly breakdown of net positions for speculative traders in gold futures markets.

• 2:30 PM ET: CFTC Crude Oil Speculative Positions (Previous:233.6K) - Weekly breakdown of net positions for speculative traders in crude oil futures markets.

• 2:30 PM ET: CFTC Nasdaq 100 Speculative Positions (Previous:6.6K) - Weekly breakdown of net positions for speculative traders in Nasdaq 100 futures markets.

• 2:30 PM ET: CFTC S&P 500 Speculative Positions (Previous:-80.9K) - Weekly breakdown of net positions for speculative traders in S&P 500 futures markets, released each Friday to reflect commitments of traders on the prior Tuesday.

Other Economic Events to Watch

• 7:30 AM ET: Government Payrolls (Previous:-6.0K) - Measures the change in employment within the government sector.

• 7:30 AM ET: Average Weekly Hours (Forecast:34.3, Previous: 34.3) - Measures the average number of hours worked by employees on non-farm payrolls.

• 7:30 AM ET: Manufacturing Payrolls (Forecast:-5K, Previous: -12K) - Measures employment changes in the manufacturing sector.

• 7:30 AM ET: U6 Unemployment Rate (Previous:7.9%) - Broader measure of unemployment that includes persons marginally attached to the labor force and those employed part-time for economic reasons.

• 2:30 PM ET: CFTC Silver Speculative Positions (Previous:24.7K) - Weekly breakdown of net positions for speculative traders in silver futures markets.

• 2:30 PM ET: CFTC Copper Speculative Positions (Previous:37.5K) - Weekly breakdown of net positions for speculative traders in copper futures markets.

• 2:30 PM ET: CFTC Natural Gas Speculative Positions (Previous:-172.6K) - Weekly breakdown of net positions for speculative traders in natural gas futures markets.

• 2:30 PM ET: CFTC Wheat Speculative Positions (Previous:-17.1K) - Weekly breakdown of net positions for speculative traders in wheat futures markets.

• 2:30 PM ET: CFTC Soybeans Speculative Positions (Previous:215.2K) - Weekly breakdown of net positions for speculative traders in soybeans futures markets.

• 2:30 PM ET: CFTC Corn Speculative Positions (Previous:375.4K) - Weekly breakdown of net positions for speculative traders in corn futures markets.

• 2:30 PM ET: CFTC Aluminium Speculative Net Positions (Previous:-0.7K) - Weekly breakdown of net positions for speculative traders in aluminium futures markets.

For further information and the latest updates, please refer to our Economic Calendar, here https://cl.emeraldcheetahnews.top/economic-calendar/

This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.