Employment Probably Grew in January: U.S. Economy Preview

Employers probably added workers to payrolls in January, showing companies are gaining confidence the U.S. expansion will weather Europe’s slump, economists said before reports this week.

Employment grew by 150,000 after rising by 200,000 in December, according to the median forecast of 68 economists surveyed by Bloomberg News. The jobless rate may have held at an almost three-year low of 8.5 percent. Other reports may show manufacturing accelerated this month and consumer confidence picked up.