The omicron variant of COVID-19 spread rapidly throughout the country over the month of January, leading to record-breaking case numbers and public frustration as some feared the pandemic progress made over the course of the past three years had been ripped away.
Because of this, economists woefully predicted sluggish growth or even a net increase in the jobless rate in the month of January, as they anticipated a Friday jobs report from the Bureau of Labor Statics. Even the White House was reportedly bracing for a disappointing report, with White House press secretary Jen Psaki telling reporters it might "show job losses in large part because workers were out sick from omicron.”
Analysts hypothesized that the results could range from only a 250,000 job gain to a concerning 400 thousand job loss. Payroll firm ADP all but confirmed this on Wednesday, saying private payrolls fell by more than 300 thousand jobs.
Well, the report is in, and it's defied expectations. The United States added approximately 467 thousand jobs in the month of January, with long-term unemployment continuing to plummet as well.
Up until minutes before the report was to be released, hosts at the conservative Fox News network seemed barely able to contain their excitement about the likelihood of a disappointing jobs report, which would've equipped them with a new tool to decry a Democratic administration.
Up until just *seconds* before the release of the January jobs report, Fox News was giddy with anticipation of massive job loss... pic.twitter.com/kH5dZOQYF4
— Craig Harrington (@Craigipedia) February 4, 2022
A compilation from MMFA's John Kerr compiled their anticipation into a video. "It could be a morning of pain," Fox and Friends host Steve Doocy said with a smile, "because just about 28 minutes from right now, the January jobs report is going to be released by the Bureau of Labor. "It could be the worst in years," his cohost Brian Kilmeade said.
But as is often the case with Fox News, the hypotheticals were far from reality, and the network was subsequently mocked.
What's the plural of doofus? https://t.co/OjiVoGLePU
— David Corn (@DavidCornDC) February 4, 2022
Fox News 🤡 🤡🤡 https://t.co/MnxWairlt3
— Rep. Gloria Johnson (@VoteGloriaJ) February 4, 2022
In case you needed any more more proof that the pro-Putin Fox News is rooting for America to fail... https://t.co/7WGVx5bLlT
— The Daily Edge (@TheDailyEdge) February 4, 2022
They were absolutely counting on a terrible jobs report.
Which makes the fact their faces are cracked right now even more glorious. https://t.co/nlawDFxTrz
— Down And Out Bad In DFW (@Kennymack1971) February 4, 2022
This is delicious…. Womp womp!! https://t.co/FhBc1ldfbe
— Rosemarie Lane 🇺🇸🏴☠️🏝🎣🐶 (@KeysMom1031) February 4, 2022
But Fox was far from the only one to put its cart before the horse.
Many conservatives, after the ADP's report of 300 thousand private payroll losses, leapt to claim this would reflect a loss of 300 thousand jobs and quickly began admonishing the Biden administration days before the Bureau of Labor Statistics released its report.
Another month, another TERRIBLE jobs report. Instead of adding 200k new jobs like expected, we LOST 300k. Very bad news for working families. Why won’t this White House do ANYTHING to help American workers? They don’t care!
— Ronny Jackson (@RonnyJacksonTX) February 2, 2022
the White House spin on tomorrow's jobs report will be fun
— Sean Spicer (@seanspicer) February 4, 2022
WOW!!
The ADP jobs report is out and it’s ANOTHER disaster for Biden.
Estimates had 207,000 jobs created in Jan but instead the economy LOST 301,000 jobs.
A miss of >500,000 jobs!
1) Biden is horrible. Obama 3rd term
2) But sure, the Fed is going to hike rates 4x 😂
— Kip Herriage 🇨🇦 (@KHerriage) February 2, 2022
BREAKING: Unemployment is rising in The United States of America.
301,000 Jobs lost in January per the ADP report this morning.
We can thank sleepy, creepy Joe Biden for this.
— Lord Julio Gonzalez - juliogonzalez.com (@TaxReformExpert) February 2, 2022
Awkward.
@badgalriri/Instagram