U.S. jobs growth slows to 151,000, but unemployment rate hits eight-year low

marketwatch.com ^ | February 5, 2016 | Jeffry Bartash

[John W]

WASHINGTON (MarketWatch)- The pace of hiring in the U.S. tapered off in January, but wages rose sharply and the unemployment rate dipped below 5% for the first time since 2008 in a mixed report that adds little clarity about the health of the economy

The U.S. added 151,000 nonfarm jobs in the first month of 2016, the Labor Department said Friday. Economists polled by MarketWatch had expected job creation to slow to 180,000 after big gains at the end of last year.

The smaller-than-expected increase in jobs could add to growing worries about a weakening U.S. economy and even the possibility of recession. Yet the January jobs report also offered some good news to suggest the labor market remains healthy enough to keep the economy moving.

[Opinionated Blowhard]

Exactly. When the whole country gives up and is on Welfare and Food Stamps, unemployment will be at 0%. We’ll be living in paradise.

[alexander_busek]

We are already seeing signs of hyperinflation.

What signs would that be?

Regards,

[butlerweave]

Obama will announce that he’s so great that the unemployment rate is now -50%

[JohnnyP]

“Where’s that gif of Taylor Swift saying ‘ok, riiiight’?”

I think that’s Jennifer Lawrence.

[publius911]

4.9% unemployment is pure BS.

Serious crime is way down too!
Just ask Obungo's statisticians.

Probably the first thing that the new president should do to establish his integrity is to fire the entire crew who have cooked the numbers...

JUST FOLLOWING ORDERs!!

Participation rate is all that matters.

And junk the government printing presses...

I hope Trump turns his candidacy strategy to clearly state, EVERY DAY :

If the top 20 SUCCESSFUL profitable American companies were taxed at 100% of their profits (and screw their investors) HOW LONG WOULD IT TAKE TO PAY OFF THE NATIONAL DEBT, BOTH INTEREST AND PRINCIPAL?

[Iron Munro]

How Obama Finagles The Numbers To Get The Unemployment Rate Down

(LEFT) BLUE = Labor Force Participation As A Percent Of The Government Defined Work Force
(RIGHT) RED = Unemployment Rate As A Percent Of The Government Defined Available Labor Force

The labor force participation rate is the number of available work force that are willing and able to work and either employed or actively looking for employment.

[stylin19a]

couple of things I never understand about these numbers.

Are the jobs “new”? or did they already exist and the position got filled ?

Initial claims for unemployment insurance for 01/30/2016 was 285k net ( 311,956 actual )

Is 151k new jobs a net number ? seems strange if it is.
For all of January 2016, there were approx. 1.4 million new claims for unemployment insurance

I'm sure there is way more stuff involved, but I sure can't get my arms around any of this..

[vpintheak]

Gee..... I wonder how that happens....

[ActresponsiblyinVA]

Why work? Lower your income to assist in dealing with income inequalities.

[Georgia Girl 2]

151k does not even keep up with population growth.

[spokeshave]

more like stagflation

[stylin19a]

just found another article questioning the stats

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/what-jobs-bls-says-665000-job-losses/article/2582535

[Arlis]

http://www.shadowstats.com/alternate_data/unemployment-charts