Nonfarm payrolls were expected to increase by 187,000 in January, according to Dow Jones estimates.

Unemployment benefits aren’t reaching people in a timely manner despite a low volume of claims. The system is still recovering from the initial pandemic shock.

The U.S. unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.7% in November.

This year’s hot pace of job creation may have slowed in October, but unemployment is expected to remain very low as worker shortages persist.