January U.S. Nonfarm Payrolls Surpass 200k; Unemployment Stays at 3.8%

The U.S. nonfarm payrolls added 226,000 jobs in January (01/31/2026), exceeding the 200,000 median forecast and the 185,000 revised estimate from December. The unemployment rate remained at 3.8%, the lowest in over a decade. Average hourly earnings rose by 0.4% year-over-year, while the labor participation rate held steady at 62.4%. The strong reading suggests continued momentum in labor market expansion despite persistently high inflation.