December jobs report will provide a final read on U.S. employment in a year of uncertainty [View all]

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Last edited Fri Jan 9, 2026, 07:06 AM - Edit history (1)

Allie Canal used to go by the byline Alexandra Canal. Before that, she was known as Alexandra Semenova. Her articles have been appearing at DU for well over ten years.

Economy

December jobs report will provide a final read on U.S. employment in a year of uncertainty

Friday's hiring and unemployment data could also offer some clarity about what direction the U.S. labor market is heading.

Jan. 9, 2026, 5:00 AM EST
By Steve Kopack and Allie Canal

As the steady flow of government data resumes after the longest shutdown in U.S. history, Friday’s jobs report will offer the final read on how the labor market performed in 2025.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics will return to its regularly scheduled release, with December payrolls and unemployment data set to be published at 8:30 a.m. ET. ... Economists largely expect to see a rebound from the weakness seen in recent months.

Overall, the U.S. economy is expected to have added 73,000 jobs in December, with unemployment projected to nudge down to 4.5%, according to economists surveyed by Dow Jones.

In November, the unemployment rate rose to 4.6%, the highest since mid-2021, while the economy shed a combined 41,000 jobs across October and November.

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