Nonfarm payrolls likely rose by 73,000 last month while the unemployment rate edged lower to 4.5%, according to the Dow Jones consensus.

Private sector job creation turned positive in December though at a bit softer pace than expected.

Private-sector employment rose by 41,000 jobs in December, though the rise was lower than the expected 48,000, ADP reported Wednesday.

Nonfarm payrolls likely rose by 73,000 last month while the unemployment rate edged lower to 4.5%, according to the Dow Jones consensus.

2025 was marked by relatively strong job growth in the first few months, followed by cooling, with some months showing net job losses after revisions.

Nonfarm payrolls were expected to rise by 73,000 in December as the unemployment rate moved lower to 4.5%.

The Federal Reserve is expected to leave interest rates unchanged this month.

The United States added 50,000 nonfarm jobs in December, fewer than was projected, the Bureau of Labor Statistics' jobs report published Friday.