The US economy is estimated to have added 130K nonfarm payroll jobs in January 2026, a sharp increase from the downwardly revised 48K gain in December and well above market expectations of 70K.
Employment growth was concentrated in health care (+82K), particularly in ambulatory health care services (+50K); social assistance (+42K); and construction (+33K). The manufacturing sector added 5K jobs.
By contrast, federal government employment fell by 34K, as some federal employees who had accepted deferred resignation offers in 2025 left the federal payrolls. Employment in financial activities also declined, down by 22K.
Employment was little changed over the month in mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction; wholesale trade; retail trade; transportation and warehousing; information; professional and business services; and leisure and hospitality.
In addition, total nonfarm employment growth for 2025 was revised down substantially, to +181K from +584K. This revision implies average monthly job gains of just 15K, well below the previously reported 49K.
