Jobs report, Fed Chair Powell speech highlight Friday’s economic calendar

As traders approach another pivotal day for financial markets, a series of crucial decisions and economic data releases that could sway market dynamics are expected on Friday, April 4, 2025. The U.S. jobs report, including nonfarm payrolls and unemployment rate, will take center stage, alongside a highly anticipated speech from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. These events have the potential to significantly impact market sentiment and monetary policy expectations.

Major Economic Events to Watch

• 8:30 AM ET - Average Hourly Earnings m/m: Forecast 0.3%, Previous 0.3% (Measures change in the price businesses pay for labor)

• 8:30 AM ET - Nonfarm Payrolls: Forecast 137K, Previous 151K (Key indicator of job creation and economic health)

• 8:30 AM ET - Unemployment Rate: Forecast 4.1%, Previous 4.1% (Percentage of total workforce unemployed and seeking employment)

• 11:25 AM ET - Fed Chair Powell Speaks (May provide insights into future monetary policy)

Other Important Economic Events to Watch

• 8:30 AM ET - Private Nonfarm Payrolls: Forecast 130K, Previous 140K (Measures change in private sector employment)

• 8:30 AM ET - Average Hourly Earnings y/y: Forecast 3.9%, Previous 4.0% (Year-over-year change in wages)

• 8:30 AM ET - Participation Rate: Previous 62.4% (Indicates labor supply and workforce engagement)

• 11:25 AM ET - Fed Vice Chair for Supervision Barr Speaks (May offer additional perspective on financial regulation)

• 12:45 PM ET - Fed Waller Speaks (Another opportunity for insight into Fed policy views)

• 1:00 PM ET - Baker Hughes (NASDAQ:BKR) U.S. Rig Count: Previous 484 (Indicator of oil industry activity)

• 1:00 PM ET - U.S. Baker Hughes Total (EPA:TTEF) Rig Count: Previous 592 (Broader measure of drilling activity)

• 3:30 PM ET - CFTC S&P 500 speculative positions: Previous 68.3K (Insight into market sentiment)

• 3:30 PM ET - CFTC Nasdaq 100 speculative positions: Previous 23.0K (Tech sector sentiment indicator)

• 3:30 PM ET - CFTC Gold speculative positions: Previous 257.9K (Precious metals market sentiment)

• 3:30 PM ET - CFTC Crude Oil speculative positions: Previous 180.6K (Oil market sentiment indicator)

Other Economic Events to Watch

• 8:30 AM ET - Manufacturing Payrolls: Forecast 5K, Previous 10K (Employment change in manufacturing sector)

• 8:30 AM ET - Government Payrolls: Previous 11.0K (Change in government employment)

• 8:30 AM ET - Average Weekly Hours: Forecast 34.2, Previous 34.1 (Average hours worked per week)

• 8:30 AM ET - U6 Unemployment Rate: Previous 8.0% (Broader measure of unemployment)

• 3:30 PM ET - CFTC Aluminium speculative net positions: Previous 1.9K (Aluminum market sentiment)

• 3:30 PM ET - CFTC Copper speculative positions: Previous 25.2K (Copper market sentiment)

• 3:30 PM ET - CFTC Silver speculative positions: Previous 62.3K (Silver market sentiment)

• 3:30 PM ET - CFTC Natural Gas speculative positions: Previous -131.9K (Natural gas market sentiment)

• 3:30 PM ET - CFTC Wheat speculative positions: Previous -82.5K (Wheat market sentiment)

• 3:30 PM ET - CFTC Corn speculative positions: Previous 200.4K (Corn market sentiment)

• 3:30 PM ET - CFTC Soybeans speculative positions: Previous -14.4K (Soybean market sentiment)

For further information and the latest updates, please refer to our Economic Calendar, here.

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