Unemployment rate rises to 4.6 percent in January

The U.S. unemployment rate climbed to a four-month high of 4.6 percent as somewhat cautious employers added fewer new jobs to their payrolls in January. Wage gains were even more modest.

Photo: Unemployment rate rises to 4.6 percent in January

Unemployment rate rises to 4.6 percent in January

The newest report on the economy, released Friday by the Labor Department, suggested that the jobs market got off to a slower start in 2007 yet still remains in decent shape. The more subdued job growth 111,000 positions is consistent with the expectation that growth in the economy as a whole will moderate this year.

The tally of new jobs added last month fell short of economists expectations for a gain of around 150,000 positions. Analysts also had said they anticipated that the overall unemployment rate would have held steady at 4.5 percent, the rate that was registered in December.

January's unemployment rate, while the highest since a 4.6 percent rate registered in September, nevertheless pointed to a relatively healthy jobs climate.

The payroll gain of 111,000 came after 206,000 jobs were created in December, a figure that was stronger than reported a month ago. October and November payroll gains also turned out to bigger, helping to take some of the sting out of January's performance, reports AP.

The report comes as President George W. Bush, in economic speeches this week, has sought to soothe some workers' anxieties about their ability to keep or find a job in a dynamic economy that puts an increasing emphasis on skills, education and flexibility. Democrats, now in control of Congress, pledge to help the middle class, a group, they contend the White House has ignored. Getting final agreement in Congress on legislation boosting the federal minimum wage from $5.15 to $7.25 an hour is a top priority.