jobs report

The unemployment rate was little changed, ticking back down to 4.9 percent. Hourly earnings rose 10 cents over last month — in total, wages are up 2.8 percent year over year.

Economists had expected between 170,000 and 176,000 new jobs last month. The unemployment rate rose slightly, to 5 percent from 4.9 percent.

The monthly jobs report fell short of expectations, both in terms of job growth and the unemployment rate. Economists had anticipated 180,000 new jobs and a slight drop in unemployment.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics' report shows stronger job growth than economists had been expecting. Meanwhile, NPR's Yuki Noguchi puts the very idea of a monthly jobs report in perspective.

Economists had anticipated 160,000 new jobs, even factoring in a large strike by Verizon employees. Meanwhile, the unemployment rate declined because of people dropping out of the workforce.

Job gains last month were stronger than in January and outperformed expectations — however, an anticipated rise in wages didn't materialize. Average hourly earnings dropped by three cents an hour.

The January jobs report indicated unemployment was at 4.9 percent, the lowest rate since the recession. But the U.S. only added 151,000 jobs, missing economists' expectations of 190,000 new jobs.

The agency also revised October's expectations-beating figure even higher, saying that 298,000 jobs had been created — the most in all of 2015.

The unemployment rate dipped slightly to 5 percent, according to the report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Job growth turned out to be a lot slower in September than most economists had been assuming. Now, with hiring looking weak, they think the Federal Reserve may put off any rate increase until 2016.