ISTANBUL

The US economy added 130,000 jobs in January 2026, while the unemployment rate rose to 4.3%, from 4% in January 2025, according to data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics on Wednesday.

The release of the January figures, originally scheduled for last Friday, was delayed due to the recent partial federal government shutdown.

The number of unemployed people in the country held steady at 7.4 million, though this figure is higher than the 6.9 million recorded a year earlier when the rate was 4%.

Job gains were primarily seen in the health care, social assistance and construction sectors during the first month of the year.

Employment in the federal government and financial activities sectors declined, offsetting some of the growth in other areas.

Among major worker groups, the unemployment rate for teenagers declined to 13.6%, while rates for adult men and women showed little change.