📉 **U.S. Hiring Rate Drops to Crisis-Level Territory**

The U.S. hiring rate fell to **3.3% in Dec 2025**, matching levels seen during the **2020 crisis** and marking one of the **lowest readings in ~13 years**. It’s even weaker than the 2001 recession and is approaching territory last seen during the **2008 financial crisis**.

⚠️ January data adds to the concern:

U.S. companies announced just **5,306 hiring plans** — the **lowest January figure since Challenger began tracking in 2009**.

📊 **What it signals:**

The labor market may be losing momentum faster than expected.

👉 Slower hiring → softer consumption risk

👉 Growth expectations could cool

👉 Pressure may build on the Fed to shift policy

Markets often react before the data confirms a trend — and this is a signal worth watching closely 👀