According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics the United States added 139,000 “non-farm payroll jobs” in the month of May, 2025. These figures came in close to what experts projected and depending upon one’s ideological perspective, it was either evidence of economic strength and resilience under Trump or a sign of a slowing job market as a result of Trump’s tariff policies and economic uncertainty. What the mainstream media didn’t cover as much were the prior month revisions, or how the demographic shifts are artificially boosting labor participation numbers. With an economic slowdown on the horizon, AI already taking entry-level jobs, recent graduates having trouble finding employment, a quarter of the population participating in the gig economy and an aging population, there is trouble brewing. And some of it is already here.

Access the episode resources.

Resources

Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Situation Summary - 2025 M05 Results

Tulane: Importance of Data Collection in Public Health

Common Dreams: Hitler’s First 100 Days — And Trump’s

St. Louis Fed: Labor Force Participation Rate (CIVPART)

St. Louis Fed: Labor Force Participation Rate - 25-54 Yrs. (LNU01300060)

St. Louis Fed: Labor Force Participation Rate - 55 Yrs. & over (LNS11324230)

AARP: Are the Last Boomers Ready for Retirement?

CNN: AI company’s CEO issues warning about mass unemployment

Gig Economy Data Hub: How many gig workers are there?

US Census Bureau: Demographic Turning Points for the United States: Population Projections for 2020 to 2060

UNFTR Resources

Iceberg. Dead Ahead.

Building a Civilian Labor Corps: Bracing for the AI Job Apocalypse.

5NN

Video: 2025 Jobs Data is Total BULLSH*T

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According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics the United States added 139,000 &ldquo;non-farm payroll jobs&rdquo; in the month of May, 2025. These figures came in close to what experts projected and depending upon one&rsquo;s ideological perspective, it was either evidence of economic strength and resilience under Trump or a sign of a slowing job market as a result of Trump&rsquo;s tariff policies and economic uncertainty. What the mainstream media didn&rsquo;t cover as much were the prior month revisions, or how the demographic shifts are artificially boosting labor participation numbers. With an economic slowdown on the horizon, AI already taking entry-level jobs, recent graduates having trouble finding employment, a quarter of the population participating in the gig economy and an aging population, there is trouble brewing. And some of it is already here.
<a href="https://www.unftr.com/episodes/topical24">Access the episode resources</a>.
Resources
Bureau of Labor Statistics: <a href="https://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.nr0.htm">Employment Situation Summary - 2025 M05 Results</a>
Tulane: <a href="https://publichealth.tulane.edu/blog/importance-of-data-collection/">Importance of Data Collection in Public Health</a>
Common Dreams: <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/opinion/hitler-trump-first-100-days">Hitler&rsquo;s First 100 Days &mdash; And Trump&rsquo;s</a>
St. Louis Fed: <a href="https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/CIVPART">Labor Force Participation Rate (CIVPART)</a>
St. Louis Fed: <a href="https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/LNU01300060">Labor Force Participation Rate - 25-54 Yrs. (LNU01300060)</a>
St. Louis Fed: <a href="https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/LNS11324230">Labor Force Participation Rate - 55 Yrs. &amp; over (LNS11324230)</a>
AARP: <a href="https://www.aarp.org/money/retirement/peak-boomer-readiness/">Are the Last Boomers Ready for Retirement?</a>
CNN: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zju51INmW7U&amp;t=11s">AI company&rsquo;s CEO issues warning about mass unemployment</a>
Gig Economy Data Hub: <a href="https://gigeconomydata.org/basics/how-many-gig-workers-are-there">How many gig workers are there?</a>
US Census Bureau: <a href="https://www.census.gov/content/dam/Census/library/publications/2020/demo/p25-1144.pdf">Demographic Turning Points for the United States: Population Projections for 2020 to 2060</a>
UNFTR Resources
<a href="https://www.unftr.com/episodes/unftr152">Iceberg. Dead Ahead.</a>
<a href="https://www.unftr.com/episodes/unftr142">Building a Civilian Labor Corps: Bracing for the AI Job Apocalypse.</a>
<a href="https://www.unftr.com/5nn">5NN</a>
Video: <a href="https://youtu.be/Ma6pgM626LA?feature=shared">2025 Jobs Data is Total BULLSH*T</a>
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Buy yourself some Unf*cking Coffee at <a href="https://shop.unftr.com/">shop.unftr.com</a>.
Visit our bookshop.org page at <a href="https://bookshop.org/shop/UNFTRpod">bookshop.org/shop/UNFTRpod</a> to find the full UNFTR book list, and find book recommendations from our Unf*ckers at<a href="https://bookshop.org/lists/unf-cker-book-recommendations"> bookshop.org/lists/unf-cker-book-recommendations</a>.
Access the UNFTR Musicless feed by following the instructions at <a href="https://www.unftr.com/accessibility">unftr.com/accessibility</a>.
Unf*cking the Republic is produced by 99 and engineered by Manny Faces Media (<a href="https://www.mannyfacesmedia.com">mannyfacesmedia.com</a>). Original music is by Tom McGovern (<a href="http://www.tommcgovern.com/">tommcgovern.com</a>). The show is hosted by Max and distributed by 99.

Unf*cking The Republic® (UNFTR) is dedicated to progressive politics, leftist economic theories, and social justice in the United States. Join us for deep dives into socialism, labor rights, climate justice, and the fight against inequality. Whether you're curious about Marxist ideas, modern social movements, or progressive policies, UNFTR delivers thoroughly sourced critiques, analyses, and interviews with the historical context mainstream media won't provide. Subscribe for informative and unabashedly progressive coverage of the leftist political and economic landscape.

Unf*cking The Republic&reg; (UNFTR) is dedicated to progressive politics, leftist economic theories, and social justice in the United States. Join us for deep dives into socialism, labor rights, climate justice, and the fight against inequality. Whether you're curious about Marxist ideas, modern social movements, or progressive policies, UNFTR delivers thoroughly sourced critiques, analyses, and interviews with the historical context mainstream media won't provide. Subscribe for informative and unabashedly progressive coverage of the leftist political and economic landscape.

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