U.S. added stronger than expected 130,000 jobs in January, with unemployment rate falling to 4.3%

Down sizably ahead of the jobs data, bitcoin rose modestly to $67,500 following the news. U.S. jobs growth sizably strengthened in the first month of 2026. There were 130,000 jobs added in January, according to a Wednesday report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Economist forecasts had been for 70,000 jobs added, up from jobs growth of 48,000 in December. The unemployment rate fell to 4.3% versus forecasts for 4.4% and December’s 4.4%. Trading in a tight range close to $69,000 for much of the week, bitcoin BTC$66,196.59 had dipped back to the $67,000 area in the hours prior to the report. In the immediate aftermath of the strong data, bitcoin rose to $67,500, though still down 2% over the past 24 hours. U.S. stock index futures are continuing with modest gains, the Nasdaq 100 higher