According to the Associated Press, employers added 50,000 jobs last month, and the unemployment rate dipped to 4.4%, the first decline since June.
December hires were low, with tariffs, inflation and AI all noted as possible reasons for the trend.
The unemployment rate outlook is good after four reports in a row showed a rise. The weakening employment, however, caused the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates three times last year.
Most of the jobs added in December were in the health care, restaurant and hotel sectors. Health care added 38,500 jobs, and restaurants and hotels added 47,000.
