The Dow Jones (DJIA) is set to open Friday’s trading session on higher ground after December’s jobs report showed mixed labor market data.
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The unemployment rate was 4.4%, lower than the consensus estimate of 4.5% and falling from 4.5% in November. In addition, November’s unemployment rate was revised lower from 4.6%.
Nonfarm Payrolls Disappoint to the Downside
At the same time, nonfarm payrolls totaled 50,000, below the consensus of 70,000 and falling from 56,000 during the previous month. Payrolls in October and November were revised lower by a combined 76,000.
For all of 2025, nonfarm payrolls rose by just 584,000. “That’s the worst year for job gains outside of a recession since 2003,” said Navy Federal Credit Union Chief Economist Heather Long. She added that nonfarm payrolls would have been negative in 2025 if excluding the healthcare and social assistance sectors, which added 405,000 and 308,000 jobs, respectively.
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