'You Wish It Was 150,000,' Says Kevin O'Leary About December's Job Numbers. Calling 50K 'Soft'

Economic Overview - The U.S. economy added only 50,000 jobs in December, marking one of the weakest years for job growth in decades, with a total of 584,000 jobs added in 2022, the lowest non-recession total since 2003 [1][3] - The job growth was primarily driven by the health care and hospitality sectors, which added 38,500 and 47,000 jobs respectively, while manufacturing and retail sectors experienced job losses [3] Small Business Impact - Small business owners are hesitant to hire due to policy uncertainty, with 72% of jobs in the U.S. created by companies with 5 to 500 employees, indicating their critical role in the economy [1] - Concerns over tariffs are causing small business owners to adopt a wait-and-see approach, limiting their hiring and spending until a Supreme Court ruling on tariff rebates is made [2] Labor Market Insights - The December labor market report indicates a "jobless boom," where net job losses would have occurred without the contributions from health care and social assistance sectors [4] - The rise in long-term unemployment suggests that unemployment may be transitioning into a more permanent state rather than a temporary situation [4] Future Outlook - Despite the weak job data, there is optimism for 2026, particularly in energy infrastructure, with a noted competitive disadvantage in power generation compared to China [5]