Job growth at the start of 2026 exceeded expectations, offering reassurance that the U.S. labor market remains resilient despite months of subdued hiring and broader economic uncertainty. Fresh data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics showed nonfarm payrolls increased by 130,000 in January, well above economists’ forecasts of 55,000 and marking a notable improvement from December’s revised gain of 48,000. The stronger hiring figures were accompanied by a modest decline in the un