Despite the organization of the World Cup, job creation in the United States remains well below expectations, particularly in the hotel and catering industry.
Despite the organization of the World Cup, the impact on employment in the United States remains limited. According to official statistics published this Thursday, 57,000 jobs were created last month. Investors were expecting around 110,000.
The surprise came in particular from the leisure and hotel and catering sectors, which destroyed 61,000 jobs over the period, contrary to the expected boost as the country hosts numerous 2026 World Cup matches. In total, the country created half as many jobs as expected.
A labor market under pressure
Another major downside is that more than 700,000 people disappeared from the active population in one month. Economists point out that this is largely explained by the fact that the active population is less and less supplied, there is not more work but fewer people looking for it. The unemployment rate fell slightly, from 4.3% to 4.2%.
This is a “shocking” figure, according to Navy Federal Credit Union bank economist Heather Long, for whom it reflects a form of “abandonment” of the search for work in the face of “lack of opportunities.” More than seven million Americans are unemployed, including nearly two million long-term unemployed.
Net job creations for the months of April and May were significantly revised downwards. An awakening of the labor market seemed to be beginning recently, although it had gone into hibernation last year, especially since President Donald Trump implemented a wave of new customs duties.
Disruptions linked to artificial intelligence (AI) create an additional layer of uncertainty by raising questions about what jobs and skills will be needed in the future. “While fears of widespread job losses [à cause de l’IA] have intensified, its adoption is proving to be more gradual and more costly than many had expected,” noted Gregory Daco, economist at EY, this week. “Companies are increasingly using AI to improve their productivity and control their labor costs, but, so far, this technology seems to reinforce selectivity in hiring rather than triggering large-scale layoffs,” he added.
Disappointed expectations
FIFA estimates that the 2026 World Cup is expected to generate significant economic benefits in host countries, but the effects on employment vary depending on local contexts. In the United States, the world meeting did not significantly revive the job market, particularly in sectors traditionally buoyant during major sporting events. The figures published this Thursday confirm that, for the moment, the impact on employment remains well below expectations.
