The U.S. economy added jobs at a slower pace than expected in January, as the Federal Reserve remains in a holding pattern for interest rate cuts as it evaluates the labor market and inflation data.

Employers added 143,000 jobs in January amid LA wildfires, cold weather, uncertainty over President Donald Trump's trade, immigration policies

Annual revisions to jobs data and disruptions related to the catastrophic Los Angeles fires and severe winter storms are likely to be reasons behind the slump in job gains.

The gain in jobs was below what was expected, but the job counts for November and December were revised upward by a combined 100,000.

U.S. job growth slowed more than expected in January after robust gains in the prior two months, but a 4.0% unemployment rate probably will give the Federal Reserve cover to hold off cutting interest rates at least until June.