President Joe Biden will end his term with a relatively healthy labor market as the U.S. added 256,000 jobs in December and the unemployment rate ticked down to 4.1%.

US employers likely added a healthy number of jobs in December and the unemployment rate was unchanged, showcasing a labor market that for another year defied expectations for a sharper slowdown.

Key Takeaways Job seekers found getting hired to be more difficult in 2024, as employers announced the fewest hiring plans since 2015, according to a new report.The Challenger, Gray & Christmas report on hiring and layoffs painted a familiar picture of the job market,

Jobs data for December will add to ongoing mixed signals in the U.S. labor market. Analysts surveyed by Dow Jones expect 155,000 jobs added on the month, down from 227,000 in November, with the unemployment rate expected to have remained unchanged at 4.

New economic data released this week paints a picture of a US labor market that is continuing to cool, with hiring slowing down, but layoffs remaining remarkably low. This unique combination of factors suggests a period of relative stability in the job market,