US Wraps Up Worst Non-Recession Year for Hiring Since 2003

The US labor market is coming off one of its worst years for hiring in decades.

Revisions to employment figures showed the nation added 181,000 jobs in 2025, the lowest annual total outside of recession years since 2003. That averaged out to just 15,000 job gains per month, down from an initially reported 49,000 pace, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data out Wednesday.

While the revisions were expected to reflect a notable markdown in last year’s hiring pace, economists were pleasantly surprised by how the labor market rebounded in January. Payrolls growth last month exceeded ...