US jobs data: Hiring stays sluggish in December with 50,000 additions; unemployment rate dips to 4.4%

US hiring remained subdued in December, with employers adding only 50,000 jobs, capping a year of weak employment gains. The unemployment rate edged down to 4.4%, but businesses show caution due to economic uncertainty, inflation, and AI’s impact. This subdued hiring contrasts with healthy economic growth.