DHAKA: The US economy added 151,000 jobs in January, helping to push the country’s unemployment rate down to 4.9%.

The number was lower than expected and is a sharp slowdown from December, when 292,000 jobs were added, reports the BBC.

Job losses in transport and education weighed on the numbers, the Bureau of Labor Statistics said.

Last week, figures showed that US economic growth slowed to an annual rate 0.7% in the final three months of 2015, from 2% in the previous quarter.

Trading on Wall Street suggests investors are concerned that the slowdown in job creation could be a further sign of a weakening US economy.

The main Dow Jones closed down 215 points, or 1.3%, at 16.201.75.

But some analysts focused on the positive - that weaker job numbers meant another rise in interest rates was unlikely for now.

‘I’m a little surprised the markets reacted somewhat negatively to it,’ said Sean Lynch at the Wells Fargo Investment Institute.

‘It is actually a pretty good number that should be welcomed by the equity markets, it takes some of the concern the Fed moves too quickly off the table a little bit.’

President Obama highlighted the low unemployment rate as he plugged aspects of his spending bill to be proposed next week. He plans to push for greater investment in clean energy, where jobs growth has been strong.

BDST: 1212 HRS, FEB 06, 2016
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