The US experienced unexpected job growth in January, adding 130,000 jobs and pushing the unemployment rate down to 4.3%, after a weak 2025 for new jobs. This surprise acceleration is easing concerns about the health of the job market.

• Employers added a greater-than-expected 130,000 jobs in January, lowering the unemployment rate to 4.3%.
• Morgan Stanley Wealth Management's chief economic strategist, Ellen Zentner, stated the data vindicates Fed Chair Jerome Powell's "holding pattern."
• Average hourly earnings rose 3.7% over the last year, with job gains primarily driven by the healthcare and construction sectors.