U.S. Labor Market Shows Signs of Stagnation as Job Growth Slows Dramatically
The U.S. labor market is grappling with its weakest hiring and layoff figures since the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics report. Job additions plummeted to 580,000 in 2025—a stark contrast to the 2 million jobs created in 2024—marking the lowest growth rate in years.
Unemployment stands at 4.4%, with 7.5 million officially jobless. Another 6.2 million individuals, though wanting work, aren’t counted as unemployed due to inactive job searches or inability to accept employment. The underemployment crisis deepens as 5.3 million workers settle for part-time roles, a NEAR 1 million increase year-over-year.
This contraction reflects broader economic headwinds that could influence asset markets, including cryptocurrencies, as investors seek alternative stores of value amid traditional labor market instability.
