Leading Employment Indicator Predicts Dip in Jobs

Meanwhile, the Labor Department reports lower-than-expected 143,000 new jobs added in January, and lower unemployment rate.

People wait for the JobNewsUSA.com South Florida Job Fair to open at the Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Fla., on June 26, 2024. Joe Raedle/Getty Images

A leading indicator has signaled a potential loss of jobs over the next few months amid weaker January employment data.

The Conference Board’s Employment Trends Index declined from 109.23 in December 2024 to 108.35 in January, according to a Feb. 10 Conference Board statement. A decrease in the index value indicates that employment trends are likely to weaken.