economy
January 8, 2026
The December jobs report is due out Friday. Here's what it is expected to show
Nonfarm payrolls likely rose by 73,000 last month while the unemployment rate edged lower to 4.5%, according to the Dow Jones consensus.
TL;DR
- U.S. labor market likely showed modest improvement in December, with nonfarm payrolls expected to rise by 73,000 and the unemployment rate edging down to 4.5%.
- This represents a slight increase from the average monthly gain of 55,000 in the prior 11 months of 2025.
- Economists anticipate a stable labor market in 2026, with cautious optimism, some ups and downs, and continued resilience.
- Some Federal Reserve policymakers worry about potential cracks in the labor market, despite recent interest rate cuts.
- Job growth has concentrated in sectors like health care and government, benefiting from expansionary fiscal policy.
- Employer focus is shifting towards retention, with increased salaries, bonuses, and investment in upskilling and reskilling staff.
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