Supposedly 'routine' U.S. employment data might bring some surprises. Take a look at this quick guide

December U.S. Jobs Report: What Investors Should Know

Although the December U.S. employment report is expected to be the first unaffected by the recent government shutdown, investors may still find it challenging to interpret the results. The lingering impact of the extended shutdown could continue to skew the jobs data for several months, and persistent issues with data collection may resurface.

As Friday’s release approaches, there is significant uncertainty on Wall Street regarding the actual number of jobs added last month. While all analysts agree that employment increased, their projections vary widely—from as few as 25,000 new positions to as many as 155,000. The general consensus, however, points to continued job growth.