Hua Er Jie Jian Wen·2025-07-02 12:15Group 1 - The U.S. labor market is experiencing a significant slowdown, with UBS and Citigroup predicting that the June non-farm payroll data will fall well below expectations, potentially leading to the highest unemployment rate since 2021 [1][2] - UBS forecasts an increase of only 100,000 non-farm jobs in June, with the unemployment rate rising to 4.3%, while Citigroup's prediction is even lower at 85,000 new jobs and a 4.4% unemployment rate [2][5] - Both institutions highlight a trend of declining non-farm employment growth over several months, indicating a potential worsening economic situation [1][2] Group 2 - UBS expects the unemployment rate to rise from 4.24% in May to 4.28% in June, marking the highest level since 2021, while Citigroup anticipates a rise to 4.4% [5][12] - High-frequency indicators show signs of labor market weakness, with a notable increase in ongoing unemployment claims, which typically correlates with a slowdown in private employment growth [5][8] - Citigroup emphasizes a significant slowdown in hiring activity, which could pose substantial seasonal adjustment challenges, as private sector employment typically sees an increase of about 800,000 jobs in June [8][10] Group 3 - In terms of wage growth, Citigroup predicts a further slowdown in average hourly earnings growth to 0.2% month-over-month in June, down from 0.4% in May, reflecting weak labor demand [10][12] - Changes in immigration policy may begin to have a more pronounced impact on employment data starting in June, with recent court rulings affecting temporary work permits for immigrants [12][14] - UBS maintains its forecast for the Federal Reserve to begin cutting rates in September, with a cumulative reduction of 100 basis points expected throughout the year, while Citigroup aligns with this view, predicting a 125 basis point cut by March of the following year [14][15]