Friday's jobs report will be delayed because of the partial government shutdown

• The January employment situation report, typically released on the first Friday of each month, has been postponed indefinitely pending resolution of the government shutdown
• BLS Associate Commissioner Emily Liddel confirmed the delay in an official statement, with no specific rescheduled date provided
• The delay impacts a critical economic data release that investors, the Federal Reserve, and businesses use to assess labor market conditions and inform decision-making

Summary: January Jobs Report Delayed Due to Government Shutdown

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has announced that the January 2026 employment report, originally scheduled for release on Friday, February 6, 2026, will be postponed indefinitely due to the ongoing partial government shutdown. Emily Liddel, Associate Commissioner of the BLS, confirmed the delay in an official statement, noting that the report will be rescheduled only after government funding resumes.

Key Facts:

• Release Date Affected: February 6, 2026 (Friday)
• Report: January 2026 Employment Situation
• Reason: Partial government shutdown resulting in lack of federal funding

Market Implications:

The postponement of the monthly jobs report creates significant uncertainty for financial markets and policymakers. The Employment Situation report is among the most closely watched economic indicators, providing critical data on:

• Non-farm payroll additions
• Unemployment rate
• Wage growth
• Labor force participation

Traders and investors rely heavily on this data to gauge economic health and anticipate Federal Reserve monetary policy decisions. The absence of this information may:

• Increase market volatility due to reduced visibility on labor market conditions
• Delay Federal Reserve decision-making on interest rate adjustments
• Force investors to rely on alternative employment indicators and private sector data
• Create uncertainty around economic forecasting and corporate planning

The timing remains unclear, as the rescheduled release depends entirely on when Congress passes funding legislation to end the shutdown. This represents a notable disruption to the regular economic data calendar that markets depend on for informed decision-making.