Friday’s unexpectedly big increase in December nonfarm payrolls led to a diminished market-based likelihood for any rate cut by the Federal Reserve until September, based on one method of calculating expectations — and one big bank sees the risks tilting toward a rate hike.

U.S. job growth unexpectedly accelerated in December while the unemployment rate fell to 4.1% as the labor market ended the year on a solid footing, reinforcing views that the Federal Reserve would keep interest rates unchanged this month.

Soaring payroll growth and low unemployment in December are more than likely to keep the Federal Reserve from cutti

The U.S. labor market cooled substantially in 2024, as employers sharply curtailed hiring and workers faced increasing difficulty finding jobs, although there are no signs of a recession.

The U.S. added 256,000 jobs in December, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Friday. The number may give the Federal Reserve less incentive to cut interest rates this year.

The U.S. labor market added 256,000 jobs in December, a strong showing at the end of 2024, as the labor market revved up toward the end of the year. The unemployment rate improved, inching down to 4.1 percent from 4.

US hiring picked up unexpectedly in December as employers added 256,000 jobs, another sign of the economy’s resilience in the face of high interest rates. The Labor Department reported Friday that job growth was up last month from 212,

U.S. businesses added 256,000 new positions last month, far exceeding expectations as overall the economy continues to rev up.

U.S. job growth likely slowed to a still-healthy clip in December while the unemployment rate held steady at 4.2%, reinforcing the Federal Reserve's cautious approach toward interest rate cuts this year.