The U.S. economy posted solid job growth in January as employers hired at a steady pace to start 2026 as the Federal Reserve evaluates the need for rate cuts in the months ahead.

U.S. employers added a better-than-expected 130,000 jobs in January — but an annual update shows hiring last year was much weaker than initially reported.

Employers added a greater-than-expected 130,000 jobs in January, helping nudge the unemployment rate lower to 4.3%, the Labor Department said.