U.S. Added 130,000 Jobs In January As Hiring Picks Up; Showbiz Sees Employment Increase

• Movies and music jobs increased by 13,900 to 360,900, while broadcasting and content provider jobs fell by 4,800 to 335,900
• Average hourly earnings rose to $37.17, up 15 cents, with year-over-year wage growth at 3.7%
• Historical data revisions showed 2025 employment gains were significantly weaker than initially reported, dropping from 584,000 to just 181,000 jobs added for the full year

U.S. Jobs Report Summary - January 2026

Key Employment Figures

The U.S. economy added 130,000 jobs in January 2026, exceeding market expectations and marking an improvement following a year of weak employment growth. The unemployment rate remained essentially flat at 4.3%, according to the Labor Department.

Sector Performance

Strongest Growth:

• Healthcare and social assistance led job gains
• Construction sector showed significant increases
• Entertainment industry added 13,900 positions in movies and music, bringing total employment to 360,900

Declining Sectors:

• Federal government employment decreased
• Financial services sector shed jobs
• Broadcasting and content providers lost 4,800 positions, falling to 335,900 employees

Wage Data

Average hourly earnings increased by $0.15 to $37.17, representing a 3.7% year-over-year gain over the past 12 months, suggesting moderate wage inflation.

Historical Revisions

The Bureau of Labor Statistics revised November and December job estimates downward by 17,000. More significantly, annual adjustments revealed that 2025 employment growth was substantially weaker than initially reported, with only 181,000 jobs added for the entire year—a dramatic decrease from the preliminary estimate of 584,000.

Market Implications

The January figures suggest a potential stabilization in the labor market after a particularly weak 2025. However, the sharp downward revision to prior year data raises concerns about underlying economic momentum. The mixed sector performance—with traditional industries like healthcare and construction growing while federal government and financial services contract—indicates an uneven economic recovery. The modest wage growth may provide some relief on inflation concerns while supporting consumer spending power.