January Jobs Report Expected February 11 After Shutdown Delay

CNBC | February 04, 2026 at 05:25 PM UTC
Neutral 85% Confidence Unanimous Agreement
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Key Points

  • The January jobs report is now scheduled for February 11, delayed five days from its original release date due to the government shutdown
  • Economists surveyed by Dow Jones expect 60,000 jobs added in January, up slightly from 50,000 in December, with unemployment projected to remain at 4.4%
  • Other economic releases are also delayed, including the consumer price index for January now set for February 13, two days later than planned

AI Summary

Summary: January Jobs Report Delayed to February 11 Due to Government Shutdown

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) announced that the January employment report, postponed by a brief government shutdown, will be released on February 11, five days past its original date.

Key Data Points:

  • Economists surveyed by Dow Jones forecast 60,000 nonfarm payroll additions for January, up from 50,000 in December
  • The unemployment rate is expected to hold steady at 4.4%
  • ADP reported private sector job additions in January (specific figure not provided in article)

Additional Delays:

The government shutdown has impacted multiple economic releases:

  • Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS): Moved to Thursday from its original Tuesday release
  • Consumer Price Index (CPI) for January: Delayed to February 13, two days later than scheduled
  • Real earnings data will face the same two-day delay

Market Implications:

The delayed employment report creates an information gap for investors and traders assessing Federal Reserve policy direction and economic health. The modest expected job gains of 60,000 suggest continued labor market moderation, which could influence monetary policy decisions. The stable unemployment rate at 4.4% indicates the job market remains relatively resilient despite slower hiring.

These delays compress the release schedule for critical economic indicators, potentially creating increased market volatility as traders digest multiple data points in a condensed timeframe. The employment and inflation data arriving within two days of each other will provide crucial insights into the economy's trajectory and potential Fed actions.

Model Analysis Breakdown

Model Sentiment Confidence
GPT-5-mini Neutral 75%
Claude 4.5 Haiku Neutral 85%
Gemini 2.5 Flash Neutral 95%
Consensus Neutral 85%