Government Shutdown May Impact January Jobs Report
Written by Black Hot Fire Network Team on February 2, 2026
The Bureau of Labor Statistics will not release the January jobs report on Friday due to the ongoing partial government shutdown. This delay impacts several scheduled economic data releases.
The U.S. government initiated a partial shutdown on January 31, 2026, after a funding deadline for the 2026 Budget lapsed without Congressional approval.
Delayed Data Releases
Besides the January jobs report, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has announced that December’s Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey release and the Metropolitan Area Employment and Unemployment release will also be rescheduled. The agency intends to suspend data collection, processing, and dissemination for the duration of the shutdown. New release dates will be announced once funding is restored.
Background on the Shutdown
The partial shutdown stemmed from disagreements over funding, specifically Democratic objections to the handling of protests in Minneapolis by federal immigration agents. The Labor Department, which houses the BLS, was funded only through January 30. While the Senate has approved a measure to extend funding, it still requires passage in the House, which is scheduled to reconvene on Monday. A two-week stopgap measure was reached, temporarily funding the Department of Homeland Security at current levels and allowing for negotiations on Democratic demands.
Market Reaction
U.S. equities rose during Monday’s mid-day trading session. The SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY) increased by 0.66%, the Invesco QQQ Trust ETF (QQQ) rose 1%, and the SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF Trust (DIA) climbed 0.97%. The Nasdaq-100 (NDX) gained 1.03%. Retail sentiment surrounding the S&P 500 ETF on Stocktwits was categorized as ‘bearish.’ The iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF (TLT) decreased by 0.12%, while the iShares 7-10 Year Treasury Bond ETF (IEF) fell 0.14%.
The BLS, still recovering from a previous shutdown last year, also produces key economic data such as the Consumer Price Index, which may be affected by the current situation.
