Marketplace Labor market anxieties grow
16 snips
Jan 7, 2026 
In this insightful discussion, Mitchell Hartman, a Marketplace reporter specializing in labor markets, unpacks the growing anxieties surrounding job security. He reveals that despite a low unemployment rate, many workers, particularly Black individuals, are feeling the squeeze as employers cut back on hiring. Hartman highlights troubling trends from consumer surveys indicating worsening job expectations. Plus, there’s a deep dive into how recent tariffs aren't impacting prices as much as anticipated, providing an intriguing economic landscape.
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Labor Market Losing Steam
- The U.S. job market cooled through late 2025 with fewer hires and openings while layoffs also fell.
- Workers report rising worry about job security and lower confidence in finding new jobs, especially among higher earners.
Uneven Pain For Black Workers
- Black workers experienced a worsening labor market with unemployment rising notably above the national rate.
- Overall labor market is described as sclerotic, with employers holding onto workers but hiring little.
Tariff Pass-Through Is Blunted
- Actual tariff rates paid by importers are roughly half the statutory rates because of exemptions, shipping lags, and trade paperwork shifts.
- About half the eventual price impact from tariffs has already hit consumers, with more increases likely in 2026.