U.S. Job Growth Surprises Everyone: 130,000 New Jobs and a Drop in Unemployment!

by

Markets

What to know:

  • In a truly shocking turn of events, the U.S. added a whopping 130,000 jobs in January, while economists had modestly predicted a mere 70,000-as if they were reading tea leaves instead of economic indicators.
  • The unemployment rate did the cha-cha and dipped to 4.3%, leaving analysts scratching their heads as they expected it to remain at a stale 4.4%.
  • Just when you thought Bitcoin was having a bad day, it trimmed its losses with all the grace of a cat on a hot tin roof.

Ah, the grand spectacle of U.S. job growth has taken center stage, showcasing a robust performance in the first month of 2026.

According to a stunning report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics that surely sent economists into a tizzy, 130,000 new jobs appeared in January, up from a meager 48,000 in December-a number so paltry it would make a starving artist weep.

With the unemployment rate falling to a delightful 4.3%, one can only imagine the collective gasp of disbelief from those who had banked on a steady 4.4%.

Bitcoin, trading like a nervous squirrel, had spent much of the week hanging around $69,000 before retreating to the lowly $67,000 area just moments before this unexpected news. But fear not! In a valiant attempt to reclaim lost glory, Bitcoin leaped to $67,500 post-announcement, though still nursing a 2% hangover from the previous 24 hours.

Meanwhile, in the land of stock index futures, the Nasdaq 100 decided to raise its spirits by 0.55%, while the S&P 500 joined the party with a 0.5% uptick. The dollar, after flirting with lower numbers, found its footing, and the 10-year U.S. Treasury yield has jumped five basis points to a respectable 4.20%-for those keeping score at home.

After a series of rate cuts that could rival any dramatic soap opera in 2025, the Federal Reserve has chosen to hold steady at its January meeting, much to the chagrin of those hoping for more excitement in March.

Prior to today’s jaw-dropping job numbers, interest rate traders were placing a mere 21% chance on a March easing, but the moment the report hit, those chances plummeted to a mere 19%. Ah, the thrill of economics!

Read More

2026-02-11 17:10