Real estate investor reviewing labor data with construction cranes and economic charts in background.

130k Jobs Added in January

Market Moves
February 23, 2026•1 min read

4.3% Unemployment and a 327K Drop: The Split Labor Market Investors Must Read

According to the U.S. Department of Labor’sBureau of Labor Statistics, total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 130,000 in January, 2026 with the unemployment rate coming in at 4.3%. In addition, the report says Job gains occurred in health care, social assistance, and construction. The federal government continued to lose jobs – since reaching a peak in October 2024, federal government employment is down by 327k, or 10.9%.

Real estate investor reviewing labor data with construction cranes and economic charts in background.

U.S. jobs report January 2026nonfarm payroll increaseBLS employment dataconstruction hiring trends]federal government job lossesunemployment rate 4.3%real estate investment strategy 2026
Director of Education & Outreach, National Real Estate Investors Association

Brad Beckett

Director of Education & Outreach, National Real Estate Investors Association

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