Economy added 50,000 jobs in December: The key facts and figures

By Zach Halaschak, Joseph Lawler

Published January 9, 2026 8:31am ET

Add Washington Examiner on Google

The economy added 50,000 jobs in December, and the unemployment rate fell to 4.4%, the Bureau of Labor Statistics said Friday.

Forecasters had expected roughly 66,000 new jobs and for the unemployment rate to fall from 4.6% to 4.5%.

Print subscriber? Click here to login/register your account

Digital subscriber? Click here to login/register your account.

Full midterm coverage.Deeper analysis.

Get unlimited access to Washington Examiner's reporting, expert analysis, and coverage of the midterm elections.

Get Unlimited Access

Cancel anytime.

Tag:

Business Economy Jobs Recession Trump Administration Unemployment Washington D.C.