Surprisingly Strong Jobs Report Hints at an Improving Labor Market

WSJ What’s News

The Wall Street Journal

News, Daily News

4.1 • 4.2K Ratings

🗓️ 11 February 2026

⏱️ 14 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

P.M. Edition for Feb. 11. The U.S. economy added 130,000 jobs in January, its strongest growth in over a year. The number surpassed economists’ expectations. WSJ economics reporter Justin Lahart joins to discuss what the numbers mean for the economy. Plus, immigration enforcement in South Texas is leaving half-built homes sitting empty. We hear from Journal reporter Elizabeth Findell about the impact that’s having on the local economy. And the committee organizing the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics said that Casey Wasserman will remain its chair after his name appeared in the most recent batch of Jeffrey Epstein files. Alex Ossola hosts. Sign up for the WSJ's free What's News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Isn't home where we all want to be?
0:01.9	Reba here for Realtor.com, the pro's number one most trusted app.
0:06.2	Finding a home is like dating.
0:08.0	You're searching for the one.
0:10.0	With over 500,000 new listings every month, you can find the one today.
0:15.3	Download the realtor.com app because you're nearly home.
0:18.9	Make it real with Realtor.com.
0:22.0	Pros number one most trusted app based on August 2025 proprietary survey.
0:25.0	Over 500,000 new listings every month based on average new for sale and rental listings,
0:28.2	July 24 to June 2025.
0:33.8	January's job numbers were the strongest in more than a year.
0:37.4	Plus, in South Texas, immigration raids mean half-finished houses are sitting idle and empty.
0:42.5	The effects of it trickle down because it affects the banks where builders and others are getting loans.
0:50.8	It affects people who are waiting to buy homes or move into homes.
0:55.2	It affects the material suppliers.
0:58.6	And the federal deficit is expected to deepen by trillions of dollars over the next decade.
1:03.6	It's Wednesday, February 11th.
1:05.5	I'm Alex O'Sullough for the Wall Street Journal.
1:08.0	This is the PM edition of What's News,
1:10.0	the top headlines and business stories that move the world today.
1:18.5	The delayed January jobs report is here,
1:21.0	and it's better than investors and economists had expected.
	...

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