Jan 2026 Non-Farm Payrolls Surpass Expectations; US Equity Futures Rise

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported on January 11, 2026, that nonfarm payrolls increased by 130,000 in January, far exceeding the 66,000 expected and revised from 48,000. The unemployment rate fell to 4.3%, below expectations and down from 4.4%. Average weekly hours rose to 34.3 hours, and the average hourly earnings growth rate was 3.7% year-over-year and 0.4% month-over-month. As the data was released, U.S. equity futures surged, with S&P 500 futures up 0.31% and Dow Jones futures up 0.24%. The 10-year U.S. Treasury yield jumped 4 basis points to 4.192%, and the dollar index rose.