News
09/01/26
US adds 50,000 jobs in December, revisions shed jobs
Houston, 9 January (Argus) — The US in December added fewer jobs than expected,
and payrolls for the prior two months were revised lower. Full-year job growth
fell by about 70pc from 2024. The US added 50,000 nonfarm jobs in December, the
Labor Department reported Friday, fewer than the 60,000 expected by economists
surveyed by Trading Economics. October and November payrolls were revised lower
by a combined 76,000 jobs, with October losses revised to 173,000 jobs and
November adding 56,000. Payrolls in 2025 rose by 584,000, or 49,000 jobs/month
on average, down from 2mn added in 2024, or 168,000 jobs/month. The economy was
rocked by a 43-day partial federal government shutdown that ended in
mid-November, federal government layoffs ordered by President Donald Trump and
trade tariffs that caused widespread uncertainty among businesses and consumers.
Still, the economy expanded at an average 2.5pc annual rate in the first three
quarters of the year, largely sustained by consumer spending and business
investment, much of it in artificial intelligence. The unemployment rate was
4.4pc in December, down from 4.5pc in November, Labor reported. Wages grew at a
3.8pc annual pace, up from 3.6pc in November. Federal government payrolls grew
by 2,000 jobs in December but have fallen by 277,000 jobs from a January peak.
Retail trade lost 25,000 jobs in December, while manufacturing shed 8,000 jobs.
Mining payrolls fell by 2,000, and construction gave up 11,000 jobs during the
month. Transportation and warehousing shed 6,600 jobs. Health care and social
assistance added 38,500 jobs. Payrolls at food service and drinking
establishments rose by 27,000 in December. By Bob Willis Send comments and
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