Government Shutdown Forces Delay of Critical January Jobs Data
WASHINGTON — For the second time in four months, a federal government shutdown has thrown a wrench into the nation's economic calendar. The U.S. Department of Labor announced Monday that it will not release the January employment situation report this Friday as scheduled, blaming the ongoing partial lapse in federal funding.
In a brief statement, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) said it would "resume normal operations and notify the public of any changes to the news release schedule" once funding is restored. The agency also postponed the December Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) report, originally slated for Tuesday.
The delay echoes a 43-day shutdown last fall—the longest in U.S. history—which also stalled a suite of economic data. Economists had been keenly awaiting Friday's report, with consensus forecasts pointing to a pickup in hiring to around 80,000 net new jobs in January, up from a modest 50,000 in December.
The timing of the blackout is particularly problematic. The U.S. economy is sending mixed signals: Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew at its fastest pace in two years in the third quarter of 2023, suggesting underlying strength. Yet the labor market has conspicuously cooled, with monthly job gains averaging a tepid 28,000 since last spring—a stark contrast to the 400,000-per-month boom seen during the 2021-2023 recovery period.
"This data vacuum leaves everyone flying blind," said Michael Torres, a senior economist at the Hamilton Institute. "The Fed, investors, businesses—they all need this snapshot to understand whether strong growth is finally translating into more jobs, or if we're entering a new phase where productivity gains, perhaps from AI, allow expansion without heavy hiring."
The delay sparked immediate reaction from analysts and the public.
David Chen, a portfolio manager in New York, expressed frustration: "It's absurd that in 2024, one of the world's most advanced economies can't publish its basic jobs data. This undermines market efficiency and fuels unnecessary uncertainty."
Meanwhile, Rebecca Shaw, a small business owner from Ohio, offered a more measured view: "While the delay is inconvenient, it highlights our dependency on this data. Maybe it's a moment to also question if monthly figures alone give us the full picture of economic health."
More pointed criticism came from Leo Margolis, a political commentator: "This isn't just a bureaucratic snafu—it's a direct consequence of political brinkmanship. Holding economic transparency hostage damages public trust and real people's financial planning. It's irresponsible governance, plain and simple."
With the BLS in a holding pattern, economists and traders will now have to rely on alternative, private-sector indicators to gauge the labor market's temperature until Washington resolves its funding impasse.