US Unemployment Falls to 4.3% in January with 130,000 Jobs Created, More Than Double December's Figures
In January, the number of unemployed people stood at around 7.4 million Photo: iStock
TL;DR
- US unemployment rate fell to 4.3% in January 2026.
- 130,000 jobs were created in January, significantly exceeding expectations.
- Job growth was mainly driven by the health sector (82,000 jobs) and construction (33,000 jobs).
- The number of unemployed people decreased to 7.4 million in January.
- Job creation for the full year 2025 was revised downwards to 181,000.
- Teenagers (13.6%) and African Americans (7.2%) continue to be the most affected by unemployment.
- Federal employment continued to decrease, with a drop of 34,000 positions in January.
- The unemployment rate, inflation, and GDP are key indicators for the Federal Reserve's monetary policy decisions.