U.S. added stronger than expected 130,000 jobs in January, with unemployment rate falling to 4.3%

U.S. jobs growth sizably strengthened in the first month of 2026.

There were 130,000 jobs added in January, according to a Wednesday report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Economist forecasts had been for 70,000 jobs added, up from jobs growth of 48,000 in December.

The unemployment rate fell to 4.3% versus forecasts for 4.4% and December?s 4.4%.

Trading in a tight range close to $69,000 for much of the week, bitcoin (BTC) had dipped back to the $67,000 area in the hours prior to the report. In the immediate aftermath of the strong data, bitcoin rose to $67,500, though still down 2% over the past 24 hours.

U.S. stock index futures are continuing with modest gains, the Nasdaq 100 higher by 0.55% and S&P 500 by 0.5%. Lower earlier, the dollar is now higher on the session, and the 10-year U.S. Treasury yield has jumped five basis points to 4.20%.

After having cut rates multiple times in the second half of 2025, the Federal Reserve held policy steady at its January meeting, and members showed little inclination to resume rate cuts at the bank?s next meeting in March.

Ahead of this morning?s job numbers, interest rate traders were placing just 21% chances of a March easing, according to CME FedWatch. Just following the report, those chances had dipped to 19%.