'Robust' Jobs Report Stronger Than Expected

Seen as a signal for economic growth this year
By Newser Editors,  Newser Staff
Posted Feb 7, 2020 7:45 AM CST
'Robust' Jobs Report Stronger Than Expected
In this Sept. 18, 2019, file photo, people stand in line to inquire about jobs available at the Bean Automotive Group during a job fair in Miami.   (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky, File)

The January jobs report is in, and it's stronger than expected. Employers added 225,000 jobs, well ahead of expectations of about 160,000. The Wall Street Journal sees the gains as "robust" and says they point "to a continued healthy labor market in a US economic expansion now in its 11th year." The unemployment rate ticked up to 3.6% from a 50-year low of 3.5%, and the AP says the increase is a reflection that more Americans are entering the job market. Wages were up 3.1% from the previous year, slightly better than forecasts of 3%, per CNBC. The outlet says an unusually mild January contributed to the strong numbers. (More jobs report stories.)

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