US Hiring Surges in January, Contrasting with Prior Job Cuts

Unemployment rate falls to 4.3% as employers add 130,000 jobs, but past years revised down

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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The U.S. economy added a surprisingly strong 130,000 jobs in January, a stark contrast to the drastic job cuts seen in 2025, the Labor Department reported. However, the government also revised down payroll numbers for 2024-2025, cutting hundreds of thousands of jobs from previous estimates.

Why it matters

The strong January jobs report signals a potential turnaround in the labor market after the significant layoffs of the prior year, though the downward revisions to past data raise questions about the overall strength of the recovery. The unemployment rate falling to 4.3% also suggests the economy may be regaining momentum.

The details

According to the Labor Department, U.S. employers added 130,000 jobs in January, exceeding economists' expectations. However, the government also revised down payroll numbers for 2024 and 2025, cutting hundreds of thousands of jobs from previous estimates. The unemployment rate fell to 4.3% in January, down from 4.5% the prior month.

  • The job gains were reported for January 2026.
  • The unemployment rate fell to 4.3% in January 2026.

The players

U.S. Department of Labor

The federal agency responsible for collecting and reporting employment and economic data.

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The takeaway

The strong January jobs report provides hope that the labor market is recovering from the significant job losses seen in 2025, but the downward revisions to past data suggest the overall economic picture may be more mixed than the headline numbers indicate.