Investor Index | January 9th
2025 was the worst year for hiring since 2020, December jobs report shows
The U.S. labor market ended 2025 with weak job growth, as employers added just 50,000 jobs in December, well below expectations and capping one of the slowest years of hiring in decades, even though the unemployment rate edged down to 4.4%. Businesses have been cautious about adding workers amid economic uncertainty, and revisions to prior months showed even smaller gains than previously thought. While some sectors like health care and hospitality saw modest increases, others such as retail and manufacturing lost jobs. The tepid labor market adds complexity to Federal Reserve policy decisions, as officials weigh inflation risks against signs of cooling employment.
Full Article: https://www.nbcnews.com/business/economy/december-jobs-report-unemployment-rate-rcna253115
Foreign Capital Returns to U.S. CRE With a Sharper Playbook
Foreign investment is coming back into the U.S. commercial real estate (CRE) market in 2026 with a more disciplined and strategic approach after a long pullback, as global investors view this year as a compelling opportunity amid stabilized pricing and stronger fundamentals. Rather than broad, thematic bets, foreign capital is focusing on specific sectors such as data centers and housing assets and targeting resilient micro-markets and secondary cities rather than just major gateways. Investors are paying closer attention to entry basis, underwriteable cash flows, and localized dynamics, reflecting caution around political risk, currency shifts, and overall economic conditions—but the U.S. remains a top global destination. This return of cross-border capital signals renewed confidence in the CRE sector and highlights evolving strategies that emphasize careful asset selection and risk management.
Full Article: https://www.globest.com/2026/01/07/foreign-capital-returns-to-us-cre-with-a-sharper-playbook/
Oregon phases in rules to improve ‘outdated’ farmworker housing
Oregon has begun phasing in updated rules to improve outdated farmworker housing standards, aiming to raise living conditions for the more than 12,000 workers living in employer-provided housing by requiring water testing, better laundry access, thicker mattresses, and more toilets, and by increasing required sleeping space by 2028, as part of changes made by Oregon’s Occupational Safety and Health Division; while farmworker advocates say these updates are long overdue and address basic deficiencies like inadequate amenities, some growers warn the cost of compliance could reduce available housing and worsen worker shortages during harvest seasons.