Stagnating National Jobs Market Raises Economic Concerns

December 18, 2025 | njspotlightnew.org

The latest national jobs report is raising fresh questions about where the American economy is headed. The U.S. unemployment rate is now at 4.6% — its highest level in four years — while job growth has slowed and wages aren’t rising much faster than inflation. Will Irving, an economic researcher and associate professor of practice with Rutgers’ Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, told NJ Spotlight News the data is showing warning signs for America’s economic health.

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NJ SEED: There are always those economists and media “experts” ready to warn of the next recession even when the economy is growing. Nationally, Unemployment increased by two tenths of a percent from September to November according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Jobs grew by a modest 64,000 – small but not a decline. Some forecasters see further economic decline in the first quarter of 2026 while others see a growth spurt in the same period. Time will tell.