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“Mornings with Mary” panel reacts to the US economy adding a stronger than expected 130,000 jobs in January.
Skeptics in Washington were calmed Wednesday morning as the January jobs report beat expectations, revealing a resilient American labor force that it added 130,000 jobs to start the year.
While pundits predicted a cold winter for hiring, the 4.3% unemployment rate tells a different story: one of High Street Economy – showing renewed strength. According to Patrice Onwuka of the Independent Women’s Center for Economic Opportunity, this isn’t just a stroke of luck; it’s the direct result of “a big, beautiful bill” that gives businesses the fiscal security they need to build, hire and grow.
“Today’s January jobs report is strong and mostly beat expectations. This should inspire more hope for unemployed workers, but also boost confidence in the economy among Americans in general,” Onwuka told Fox News Digital.
“Workers are re-entering the workforce because they believe they can find work,” he added. “Also, tax cuts will increase employment. As workers also realize how tax cuts for working families … reward hard work with no tip taxes and no overtime taxes, it may draw people back into the workforce or encourage those already working to accumulate income by increasing their hours and effort.”
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The Labor Department reported on Wednesday that employers added 130,000 jobs in January. That number was above the expectations of economists polled by LSEG, who estimated the economy would add 70,000 jobs.
People line up as they wait for the Mega JobNewsUSA South Florida Job Fair to open at Amerant Bank Arena on April 30, 2025. (Getty Images)
The unemployment rate was 4.3%, slightly below economists’ expectations of 4.4%.
“Employment is a lagging indicator, not a leader,” Onwuka noted. “With the economy accelerating from just under 4% in Q2 to 4.4% in Q3, we’re starting to see that growth show up in hiring. The Dow hits new highs it’s great for those who invest in the stock market, but job creation puts people on Main Street back to work.”
“It’s important to note that these are not public sector jobs, government jobs, supported by our tax dollars, but the fruit of businesses relying on demand, sales, reduced cuts from deregulation and greater tax security, thanks to tax cuts for working families, the One Big Beautiful Bill, that they can start hiring,” he said. “Look for more of this in 2026 as this pro-growth federal economic agenda plays out.”
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While the headline showed 130,000 jobs added, those gains were concentrated almost entirely in health care and construction. Meanwhile, retail trade lost 25,000 jobs and financial activities lost 7,000. Economists often consider these traditional “office and shop” jobs to provide stable, climate-controlled, middle-class employment.
“Retail job losses are not surprising as retailers lost temporary and holiday jobs that surged to accommodate the largest holiday shopping season on record. Financial services experienced large job losses in 2025 due to high interest rates and AI replacing labor and personal services,” Onwuka explained.
“These are exciting careers for women that often provide a level of flexibility and satisfaction that traditional 9-to-5 jobs don’t offer. As baby boomers retire and live longer, the demand for employment and support for businesses in these sectors will only increase,” she continued.
Other notable strengths of the first jobs report of the new year included a decline in the number of people working part-time because they couldn’t find full-time work and the number of people out of work for more than six months. Labor force participation increased overall for US men and women.
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“Hiring takes time to recover, but trends are moving in the right direction, and it may take some patience for the unemployed, or those looking to quit, to find their next job,” the economist advised.
“Pivot may be suitable for those who cannot wait. It may be time to consider self-employment, freelancing or adding additional work,” Onwuka encouraged. “The growth of multiple occupations is a sign that people are looking for extra income and turning to side jobs and side problems…Increasingly, independent contract work for seasoned professionals and gig workers is how Americans piece together financial security. This must be respected and protected.”
Eric Revell of FOX Business contributed to this report.
