The U.S. economy added 50,000 nonfarm jobs in December, falling short of the expected 73,000 and below the revised November figure of 56,000. The unemployment rate decreased to 4.4%, slightly better than the anticipated 4.5%. Additionally, job figures for October and November were revised down by a total of 76,000. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average monthly job growth for 2025 was 49,000, significantly lower than the 168,000 average in 2024.