US Job Growth Slows in December, Unemployment Rate Drops Unexpectedly

• US nonfarm payrolls increased by 50,000 in December, missing the Dow Jones estimate of 73,000.
• November payrolls were revised down by 8,000, and October job losses deepened to 173,000.
• Despite weaker hiring, the unemployment rate unexpectedly fell to 4.4% from 4.6% in November.
• Average monthly payroll growth in 2025 was 49,000, significantly lower than 168,000 in 2024.
• Federal Reserve monitors labor data for interest rate decisions; markets expect no rate cut until June.

Why It Matters: US job creation slowed in December, but the unemployment rate surprisingly declined, presenting a mixed economic picture.