January jobs report will be released on February 11 after shutdown delay

• Economists surveyed by Dow Jones expect January nonfarm payrolls to show a gain of 60,000 jobs, following a 50,000 increase in December, with unemployment expected to hold steady at 4.4%
• The consumer price index for January will be released on February 13, two days later than originally scheduled
• The Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) will be released on Thursday instead of its originally scheduled Tuesday release

Summary: January Jobs Report Delayed to February 11

Key Development:

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) announced that the January employment report will be released on February 11, 2026—five days later than originally scheduled due to a brief government shutdown.

Additional Delays:

• The Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) will be released Thursday instead of Tuesday
• The Consumer Price Index (CPI) for January has been pushed to February 13, two days behind schedule
• Real earnings data will face the same delay as CPI

Expected Figures:

Economists surveyed by Dow Jones project:

• Nonfarm payrolls: +60,000 jobs for January
• December payrolls: +50,000 (previous month)
• Unemployment rate: Expected to hold steady at 4.4%

Related Data:

Payroll processing firm ADP reported its private sector employment figures for January on Wednesday, though specific numbers were not detailed in the article.

Market Implications:

The delayed release of critical economic data creates a compressed timeline for investors and traders, with both the employment report and inflation data (CPI) arriving within two days of each other. This timing could intensify market volatility as participants digest multiple key indicators simultaneously. The modest job growth expectations of 60,000—only slightly above December's 50,000—suggest continued labor market cooling, which could influence Federal Reserve monetary policy decisions. The stable unemployment rate projection at 4.4% indicates the job market remains resilient despite slower hiring growth.

These employment and inflation reports are crucial for assessing economic health and Fed policy direction in early 2026.