January 2026 Job Distribution by Sector:
- Healthcare & Social Assistance (+123,500): Dominated gains, with 81,900 in healthcare (ambulatory services +50,300, hospitals +18,300) and 41,600 in social assistance.
- Construction (+33,000): Gains were concentrated in nonresidential specialty trade contractors (+25,100), likely boosted by warm weather.
- Professional & Business Services (+34,000): Included gains in administrative and temp roles.
- Manufacturing (+5,000): Showed signs of stabilization, beating expectations of job losses.
- Leisure & Hospitality & Retail (+1,000–1,200 each): Marginal gains, reflecting stagnation in the sector.
- Government (-42,000): Significant cuts, driven by a 34,000 reduction in federal jobs as deferred resignations took effect.
- Financial Activities (-22,000): Experienced a decline in employment.
