US economy adds 353,000 jobs in January; 2024 starts with a bang

Alicia Wallace, CNN | 2/2/2024, 7:40 a.m.

Attendees shake hands at a Veteran Employment and Resource Fair in Long Beach, California, on January 9, 2024. Mandatory Credit: Eric Thayer/Bloomberg/Getty Images

The US economy added a stunning 353,000 jobs last month, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data released Friday, registering a stronger-than expected gain to kick off 2024.

The unemployment rate remained at 3.7% from the month before. It’s the 24th consecutive month that the nation’s jobless rate has been under 4%.