The U.S. economy started 2024 on a strong note, adding 353,000 jobs in January, while the unemployment rate kept steady at 3.7%, according to Friday's report from the Labor Department. The robust employment figures exceeded expectations, signaling a labor market that is not slowing down as previously thought.
January's job gains continued a surge from the previous month, which saw 333,000 jobs added -- a figure later revised higher by 117,000. The upward momentum was not limited to January, as job gains in November were revised slightly higher, exhibiting an increasing trend in employment.
