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The December jobs report shows 50,000 new jobs were added, slightly below economists’ predictions, with the unemployment rate at 4.4%.
December jobs report reveals 50,000 jobs added, unemployment rate at 4.4%
The December jobs report shows 50,000 new jobs were added, slightly below economists’ predictions, with the unemployment rate at 4.4%.
Economists predicted the jobs report would show employers added 55,000 jobs. 50,000 jobs were actually added. This is the first clean reading on the labor market in three months. The government did not issue *** report in October because of the six week government shutdown, and November’s data was impacted by the closure. The unemployment rate was expected to slip to 4.5%. It is sitting now at 4.4%. Overall in 2026, most economists expect hiring will accelerate this year as growth remains solid, but they also note weak job gains could also drag down future growth. The Federal Reserve’s next two-day meeting is scheduled for later this month in Washington. I’m Rachel Hirsheimer.
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December jobs report reveals 50,000 jobs added, unemployment rate at 4.4%
The December jobs report shows 50,000 new jobs were added, slightly below economists’ predictions, with the unemployment rate at 4.4%.
Updated: 6:29 AM PST Jan 9, 2026
The December jobs report released Friday indicates that employers added 50,000 jobs, slightly below the 55,000 jobs economists had predicted.The numbers are being closely watched by Wall Street and the nation because this report is the first clean reading of the labor market in three months, following a six-week government shutdown that prevented an October report and impacted November’s data. The unemployment rate was expected to decrease to 4.5% but is currently at 4.4%.Nearly all the jobs added in December were in the health care and restaurant and hotel industries. Manufacturing, construction and retail companies all shed jobs.Overall, in 2026, most economists expect hiring will accelerate as growth remains solid, but they also note weak job gains could drag down future growth. The Federal Reserve’s next two-day meeting is scheduled for later this month.Keep watching for the latest from the Washington News Bureau:
The December jobs report released Friday indicates that employers added 50,000 jobs, slightly below the 55,000 jobs economists had predicted.
The numbers are being closely watched by Wall Street and the nation because this report is the first clean reading of the labor market in three months, following a six-week government shutdown that prevented an October report and impacted November’s data.
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The unemployment rate was expected to decrease to 4.5% but is currently at 4.4%.
Nearly all the jobs added in December were in the health care and restaurant and hotel industries. Manufacturing, construction and retail companies all shed jobs.
Overall, in 2026, most economists expect hiring will accelerate as growth remains solid, but they also note weak job gains could drag down future growth.
The Federal Reserve’s next two-day meeting is scheduled for later this month.
Keep watching for the latest from the Washington News Bureau:
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