US job growth slows, but some sectors still hiring

Business Jan 09, 2026

Job growth in the US slowed way down in December—only 50,000 new jobs were added, missing forecasts and marking a sharp drop from last year.
Still, the unemployment rate nudged down to 4.4%.
For all of 2025, job gains were much lower than in 2024.

Where jobs are (and aren't)

Restaurants, bars, and healthcare kept hiring, but retail took a hit—especially big stores and warehouse clubs.
The federal government also cut over a quarter million jobs since January.
Senator Elizabeth Warren and others pointed out some worrying signs in the job market as economists warn that cost-cutting and interest rate moves could mean more bumps ahead.