Employers expanded payrolls by 143,000 jobs in January, according to the latest jobs report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). That figure fell short of economists’ forecasts of about 170,000 jobs.
However, the BLS also notes that job gains in November and December combined were 100,000 higher than previously reported.
National unemployment rate dropped slightly to 4.0%
The BLS reports the U.S. unemployment rate in January was 4.0%, down from 4.1% in December. That is the lowest level since May 2024.
The rate for college-degreed professionals who are 25 or older also decreased last month, falling from 2.4% in December to 2.3%. These professionals are in the highest demand by employers.
Other recent BLS data shows many highly skilled jobs in fields such as finance and accounting, technology, legal, marketing and creative, healthcare, human resources, and administrative and customer support have even lower unemployment rates.