It's still a ‘low fire' jobs market. Jobless claims stay low and unemployment falls early in the new year.
MarketWatch·2026-02-12 13:55

Core Insights - Businesses are experiencing a slowdown in hiring, indicating a cautious approach to workforce expansion amid economic uncertainties [1] - Despite the hiring slowdown, companies are not engaging in significant layoffs, suggesting a level of stability in employment [1] Group 1: Hiring Trends - The current hiring rate is low, with many businesses opting to maintain their existing workforce rather than expand [1] - Companies are showing reluctance to increase headcount, reflecting a wait-and-see attitude towards economic conditions [1] Group 2: Layoff Trends - There is a notable absence of large-scale layoffs, which indicates that companies are prioritizing employee retention [1] - The stability in employment levels suggests that businesses are managing their resources carefully without resorting to drastic workforce reductions [1]

It's still a ‘low fire' jobs market. Jobless claims stay low and unemployment falls early in the new year. - Reportify