U.S. employers added just 143,000 jobs last month, but the unemployment rate fell to 4% to start 2025. The first monthly jobs report of Donald Trump’s second presidency points to a solid but unspectacular labor market.

Annual revisions to jobs data and disruptions related to the catastrophic Los Angeles fires and severe winter storms are likely to be reasons behind the slump in job gains.

Economists had been expecting an overall healthy reading, with 169,000 net new jobs created in the month and the unemployment rate holding steady at 4.1%. The January report, which effectively closes the book on the Biden-era job market,

The Labor Department has released its first jobs report of the year, covering January 2025. It shows that payrolls grew by 143,000 — somewhat lower than economists’ expectations of 175,000. On the other hand, payroll growth for the end of 2024 was revised up quite a bit. Over the past 3 months, payroll growth has averaged a very strong 234,000.

The U.S. added 143,000 jobs in January, fewer than economists expected, but the unemployment rate inched down to 4% from 4.1%, beating forecasts and still near historic lows.

The US economy kicked off 2025 by adding 143,000 jobs in January, fewer than expected; but the unemployment rate dipped to 4%, according to data released Friday by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The gain in jobs was less than economists had expected, but the job counts for November and December were revised upward by a combined 100,000