The U.S. health care sector, long a cornerstone of job growth, shows signs of slowing down. Health care and social assistance firms still led job creation in August with around 47,000 new hires, but that figure points to a potential cooling trend. Economists warn that this development might foreshadow broader challenges across the labor market.

Stock futures are staying relatively steady as Wall Street looks to the August jobs report for potential market-shifting insights. The S&P 500 registered a record-high close, while the Dow and Nasdaq also posted gains despite cooling labor signals.

In the coming week, labor market figures and inflation data may have a pivotal role in determining whether interest rate cuts move back onto the table. Analysts are seeking clarity on how workforce trends and price levels could reshape current economic forecasts.

Despite a slight uptick in unemployment applications last week, the U.S. job market continues to display remarkable strength with historically low layoffs and robust job growth. Employers added 256,000 jobs in December, signaling sustained economic health.