January’s employment report, reflecting the mix of two administrations, produced mixed results, as Joe Biden left the Oval Office 20 days into the month and Donald Trump moved in with 11 days remaining.
The seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate edged down to 4.0% in January, compared to December’s 4.1% mark, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported Friday. But, just 143,000 jobs were added, below analysts’ expectations of at least 170,000.
However, December’s increase was revised up by 51,000. Without it, job growth reported for January would’ve been 194,000, much closer to the 200,000 benchmark for monthly growth.
Both the labor force participation rate (62.6%) and the employment-population ratio (60.1%) were unchanged from December, after accounting for the annual adjustments to the population controls.
Among major industry sectors, health care contributed the most jobs to January’s increase:
- Health care: Up 44,000, but beneath 2024’s average monthly gain of 57,000.
- Retail trade: Up 34,000, on par for the year.
- Government: Up 32,000, less than its average monthly increase of 38,000.
Employment in the mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction industry declined by 8,000. following little net change in 2024.
White Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt responded to Friday’s report by issuing a statement highlighting Pres. Trump’s efforts to restore America’s energy independence and stressing the urgent need to implement his agenda:
“Today’s jobs report reveals the Biden economy was far worse than anyone thought, and underscores the necessity of President Trump’s pro-growth policies.
“During his first weeks in office, President Trump declared a national energy emergency to Make America Energy Dominant Again, pledged to cut ten regulations for every new regulatory action, and outlined a plan to deliver the largest tax cut in history for hardworking Americans.
“President Trump is delivering on his promise to restore our broken economy, revive small business optimism, create jobs, and ignite a new Golden Age for America.”