Forecasters believe U.S. employment numbers expanded modestly in December, extending a streak of labor market weakness that has prompted the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates several times.

Stocks opened higher Friday as investors digested the latest data on the US labor market. The Dow rose 171 points, or 0.35%. The S&P 500 gained 0.2%. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite edged higher but was relatively flat.

Employers added 50,000 jobs in the final month of 2025, according to Labor Department data, which was fewer than expected. But the unemployment rate dipped to 4.4%. Job gains last year were the weakest since 2020, when the Covid pandemic led to widespread cuts.

Americans grew more worried about the job market in December even as anxieties over personal finances faded, while near-term inflation expectations increased, a report from the New York Federal Reserve showed on Wednesday.

The S&P 500 and Nasdaq rose Friday as December jobs showed modest growth and unemployment fell. Traders await a Supreme Court tariff ruling that could reshape U.S. trade policy. Dow, S&P, and Nasdaq are on track for weekly gains.

The Morning Bull - US Market Morning Update Thursday, Jan, 8 2026 US stock futures are slightly softer this morning, as investors weigh strong services activity against cooler hiring signals and what that could mean for interest rates.

Finding a job continued to be a slog at the end of the year, new data shows: US businesses sought out fewer workers in November and hiring rates wilted even further.

US job gains probably remained modest in December, wrapping up one of the weakest years for employment growth since 2009.