January Job Report
Reveals Stronger-Than-
Expected Additions The U.S. economy added
225,000 non-farm payroll
jobs in January. The number greatly exceeded
Wall Street projections
of 158,000 added jobs. The significant additions are
due in part to an unusually
warm January, allowing for
44,000 construction jobs. The 2019 average of
monthly construction
job additions was 12,000. While the unemployment
rate raised to 3.6 percent, labor force
participation also ticked higher by 0.2 percent. Labor Force participation
reached 63.4 percent in January. The labor market indicator,
including discouraged workers
and those who take a part-time job to
make ends meet, also increased by 0.2 percent.