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Sevens Report: U.S. Labor Market Stable, But Cracks Emerging

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Thresholds in claims and unemployment could trigger sharp equity declines

What does a soft jobs market mean for markets?

Sevens Report said U.S. labor conditions remain broadly stable despite recent weak data, citing jobless claims below 250,000, continued positive payrolls, and JOLTS near 7 million.

The firm warned, however, that momentum is fading: hiring is slowing even as layoffs remain limited. Key thresholds include jobless claims above 260,000, a four-week average above 300,000, unemployment over 4.5%, and JOLTS falling under 6.5 million. Each would signal real deterioration.

On market impact, Sevens cautioned that a sharp labor downturn could drive a 15%–30% equity drop, with the S&P 500 potentially sliding 500–700 points initially. Defensive sectors such as staples, utilities, and healthcare would likely outperform, alongside lower-volatility ETFs and mega-cap tech if the AI trade holds.

“Bottom line, the labor market is not bad; however, it is losing momentum and this is something we need to watch carefully,” the report said.

Also, click here to view the full article published in Investing.com on September 8th, 2025. However, to see the Sevens Report’s full comments on the current market environment sign up here.

If you want research that comes with no long term commitment, yet provides independent, value added, plain English analysis of complex macro topics, then begin your Sevens Report subscription today by clicking here.

To strengthen your market knowledge take a free trial of The Sevens Report.

Join hundreds of advisors from huge brokerage firms like Morgan Stanley, Merrill Lynch, Wells Fargo Advisors, Raymond James, and more! To start your quarterly subscription and see how The Sevens Report can help you grow your business, click here.

What the Bad Jobs Report Means for Markets

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Sevens Report sees no recession yet, but warns of rising anxiety

What the bad jobs report means for markets

“The jobs report was a major disappointment, but job adds are still positive, so it’s not signaling any sort of recession or slowdown,” Sevens wrote Monday.

Sevens Report noted that the report is often the “most inaccurate” of economic data, prone to distortions and revisions—especially during the summer. Broader indicators like jobless claims and the JOLTS survey remain stable, offering a more balanced picture of the labor market.

Tariff announcements on Friday were also shrugged off. Sevens said the moves were “largely in line with expectations” and that the market reaction reflected sentiment rather than surprise. “The S&P 500 gave zero room for disappointment,” the firm noted.

Looking ahead, Tuesday’s ISM Services PMI could be critical. A drop below 50 may fuel recession fears and push stocks lower, while a stable reading above 50 would help settle nerves.

With defensive sectors outperforming late last week, Sevens advised staying balanced: “If you’re very light defensives, you may want to be ready to boost them if data is soft.”

Also, click here to view the full article published in Investing.com on August 4th, 2025. However, to see the Sevens Report’s full comments on the current market environment sign up here.

If you want research that comes with no long term commitment, yet provides independent, value added, plain English analysis of complex macro topics, then begin your Sevens Report subscription today by clicking here.

To strengthen your market knowledge take a free trial of The Sevens Report.

Join hundreds of advisors from huge brokerage firms like Morgan Stanley, Merrill Lynch, Wells Fargo Advisors, Raymond James, and more! To start your quarterly subscription and see how The Sevens Report can help you grow your business, click here.