economy

January 9, 2026

Economy added 50,000 jobs in December: The key facts and figures

The economy added 50,000 jobs in December, and the unemployment rate fell to 4.4%, the Bureau of Labor Statistics said Friday.

Economy added 50,000 jobs in December: The key facts and figures

TL;DR

  • December job growth was 50,000, with the unemployment rate falling to 4.4%.
  • Forecasters expected 66,000 new jobs and a 4.5% unemployment rate.
  • Economists consider the labor market "soggy" due to lower-than-expected job gains and downward revisions.
  • Federal government employment decreased, while the private sector continued to add jobs at a slow pace.
  • Manufacturing and construction sectors experienced job losses.
  • Trump's immigration policies and tariffs are cited as potential factors affecting the labor market.
  • The report led investors to slightly decrease the likelihood of a Federal Reserve interest rate cut in January.
  • The Sahm Rule, a recession indicator, is not currently signaling a recession.

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