South Florida Sun-Sentinel (Sunday)

Jan. jobs report gives US recession-busting month

Addition of 353,000 positions pairs with higher hourly pay

- By Paul Wiseman

WASHINGTON — The nation’s employers delivered a stunning burst of hiring to begin

2024, adding 353,000 jobs in January in the latest sign of the economy’s continuing ability to shrug off the highest interest rates in two decades.

Friday’s government report showed that last month’s job gain — roughly twice what economists had predicted — topped the December gain of 333,000, a figure that was itself revised sharply higher. The unemployme­nt rate stayed at 3.7%, just above a half-century low.

Wages rose unexpected­ly fast in January, too. Average hourly pay climbed a sharp 0.6% from December, the fastest monthly gain in nearly two years, and 4.5% from January

2023.

The strong hiring and wage growth could complicate or delay the Federal Reserve’s intention to start cutting interest rates this year.

The latest gains showcased employers’ willingnes­s to keep hiring to meet steady consumer spending. It comes as the intensifyi­ng presidenti­al campaign is pivoting in no small part on views of President Joe Biden’s economic stewardshi­p. Public polls show widespread dissatisfa­ction largely because, even though inflation has sharply slowed, most prices remain well above pre-pandemic levels. Some recent surveys, though, show public approval gradually improving.

“America’s economy is the strongest in the world,’’ Biden said Friday. “Today, we saw more proof, with another month of strong wage gains and employment gains of over 350,000 in January, continuing the strong growth from last year.”

This week, the Fed took note of the economy’s durability, with Chair Jerome Powell saying “the economy is performing well, the labor market remains strong.” The central bank made clear that while it’s nearing a longawaite­d shift toward cutting interest rates, it’s in no hurry to do so.

The details in Friday’s jobs report pointed to broad hiring gains across the economy. Profession­al and business services, a category that includes managers and technical workers, added 74,000 jobs. Health care companies added 70,000, retailers 45,000, government­s at all levels 36,000 and manufactur­ers 23,000.

The unemployme­nt rate has now come in below 4% for two straight years, the longest such streak since the 1960s.

“Overall, the labor market remains strong and continues to defy expectatio­ns of a softening,’’ said Rubeela Farooqi, chief U.S. economist at High Frequency Economics. “For Fed officials, these data strongly support patience on rate cuts. Policymake­rs will be in no rush to lower rates if job and wage growth continue to be robust over coming months.’’

Acting Labor Secretary Julie Su brushed aside any concerns that last month’s wage growth might prove inflationa­ry.

“Wage growth has now been consistent­ly beating inflation,” Su said. “Working people and families have more money in their pockets. They have more security.’’

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