http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/03/jobs-report-january-2012_n_1252774.html

So surprisingly the US added 243,000 non-farm jobs to the January payrolls. I think the estimate was 120,000. This drops the unemployment rate to 8.3%. Of course that percentage doesn't include those that have stopped looking or who are not in the workforce search process anymore. There are still millions who feel disconnected from the job search process and millions who can't move for a new job because they can't sell their homes.

At least it's a continuing step in the right direction.

A large chunk of that gain was a weather related increase in constuction jobs. I'm not sure how that will extend into Feb.

Well, unemployment is down to 8.3%.

Needless to say, an improvement like this is sending the Republicans into a frenzy. This is good, because if the economy continues to improve heading into November, the Republicans will look increasingly stupid for saying we're headed down the wrong track.

It's likely that the job adds will be much less in February which may make the rate go up again which will fuel the GOP message. The White House even knows that may happen.