Economic Overview - The U.S. economy added 50,000 jobs in December 2025, lower than the revised 56,000 in November and below the Dow Jones estimate of 73,000, while the unemployment rate dropped to 4.4%, better than the forecast of 4.5% [1] Wage Growth - Average hourly earnings increased by 0.3% sequentially, aligning with forecasts, while the annual increase of 3.8% exceeded expectations by 0.2 percentage points [2] Sector Performance Healthcare - Healthcare employment rose by 21,000 jobs in December, with hospital employment increasing by 16,000. The sector averaged 34,000 jobs added per month in 2025, slower than the 56,000 average in 2024 [3] - The Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLV), with 30% exposure to the pharma industry and significant allocations to healthcare providers, equipment, biotech, and life sciences, is positioned to benefit from this moderate momentum [4] - HCA Healthcare (HCA), ranked 3 (Hold), is the largest non-governmental operator of acute care hospitals in the U.S., with a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 12.42% on average [5] Food Services & Drinking Places - Employment in food services and drinking places added 27,000 jobs in December, with an average monthly gain of 12,000 jobs in 2025, consistent with the previous year's performance [6] - The AdvisorShares Restaurant ETF (EATZ) is a potential investment opportunity, with Restaurant Brands International (QSR), ranked 2 (Buy), being a notable stock pick in this sector [6] Retail Trade - Retail trade experienced a net loss of 25,000 jobs, with 5,000 jobs gained in electronics and appliance retailing offset by losses in warehouse clubs, supercenters, and food and beverage retailers [7] - Target (TGT), ranked 3, offers a diverse range of products and has about 5% exposure to the Invesco S&P Ultra Dividend Revenue ETF (RDIV) [8] Summary of Sector Trends - Healthcare jobs are steadily increasing, keeping XLV in focus amid moderate sector momentum [9] - Food services hiring remains resilient, supporting investment opportunities in EATZ and QSR [9] - Retail sector faces job losses despite gains in electronics, creating selective pressure on stocks like TGT [9]

Key Takeaways Developments in Santa jobs this year mirror trends in the overall workforce, with job listings down and pay rising for workers with in-demand characteristics, in this case, real beards.Real-bearded Santas make $9 an hour more than their fake-whiskered counterparts, one analysis found.Job listings for Santa have plummeted 35% since 2024 due to dying malls and a shift to online sales. Having a real beard is worth an extra $9 an hour for people who work as Santas, an analysis of job postings f ...

Core Insights - U.S. firms are experiencing significant job losses, shedding more than 11,000 jobs per week as of late October according to ADP's latest real-time estimate of job market trends [1] Group 1 - The job market is showing a downward trend with a notable increase in weekly job losses [1]

Core Insights - The majority of workers (73%) plan to remain in their current roles through the end of 2025, indicating a trend towards job stability [2][3] - Only 27% of workers intend to actively seek new employment in the latter half of the year, a decrease from 29% in January and 35% a year prior [1][3] Worker Sentiment - Among those planning to stay, 37% value their current flexibility and do not wish to risk losing it [3] - The top reasons for staying include a positive company culture (33%), professional fulfillment (31%), and competitive compensation (29%) [6] Job Search Trends - Gen Z (32%) and Millennials (31%) are the most likely demographics to seek new jobs, with marketing and creative (34%) and technology professionals (30%) also showing significant interest [3] - The primary motivators for job seekers are better benefits and perks (45%), career advancement opportunities (43%), and higher pay (42%) [3] Contract Work Insights - A significant portion (91%) of those considering a career change are interested in switching industries, while 71% would contemplate contract work instead of full-time positions [4] - Contract work is increasingly viewed as a viable long-term career path, offering flexibility and diverse experiences [8][9] Company Strategy - Employers are encouraged to adopt strategic approaches to attract talent, focusing on flexibility, career development, and fostering a positive workplace culture [4]