Employers added 50,000 jobs in December, notching a moderate gain for the economy but ending the worst year for the labor market since the pandemic-era recession. Employers added 584,000 jobs in 2025, an average of about 49,000 jobs per month. Job creation in December fell short of economists’ forecasts and was lower than revised job growth in November. Economists expect that annual revisions to federal jobs data scheduled for release in February will significantly downgrade job creation for last year. In 2025, the labor market weathered Trump administration policies better than expected by some economists and policymakers.

Source: Washington Post January 10, 2026 14:05 UTC