Employers added 143,000 jobs in January amid a slowdown in the labor market

Employers around the U.S. added 143,000 jobs in January, as the Los Angeles wildfires and colder-than-expected weather across much of the country dampened hiring at the start of 2025.

The economy was expected to add 170,000 jobs last month, while the unemployment rate was forecast to remain at 4.1%, according to economists polled by FactSet.