Catenaa, February 11, 2026 – U.S. stock futures climbed as traders digested a surprisingly strong January jobs report. The release was delayed due to a brief government shutdown.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labour Statistics, nonfarm payrolls increased by 130,000 jobs in January. This far exceeded economists’ expectations of roughly 66,000 to 70,000 jobs.
The unemployment rate fell to 4.3%, down from 4.4% in December. The number of unemployed people remained elevated at 7.4 million.
Sector gains were concentrated in health care, social assistance, and construction. Health care added 82,000 jobs and social assistance contributed 42,000. Construction employment rose by 33,000.
Average hourly earnings climbed by 0.4%, pushing average wages to $37.17 per hour. On a year-over-year basis, wages rose 3.7%, hinting at ongoing inflation pressures.
Despite the headline strength, annual revisions showed much weaker job creation last year. Total employment growth in 2025 was revised down sharply to 181,000 jobs from 584,000.
Market response was swift. S&P 500 futures and Nasdaq futures gained ground after a mixed regular session. The Dow Jones Industrial Average held record levels before the report.
Treasury yields ticked up as traders cut bets on near-term Federal Reserve rate cuts. CME FedWatch showed the odds of a March rate hold near 94%, up from around 80% before the data.
Analysts say strong job gains reduce pressure on the Fed to ease monetary policy soon. But weak revisions and still-lagging labour openings signal caution.
Investors now await upcoming inflation figures and consumer spending data for clearer guidance on policy direction.
