People in the US have been worried about the direction of the economy, with record-high inflation and rising interest rates. Now, some new figures have them scratching their heads. Unemployment in January was at its lowest level in more than 50 years.

The Department of Labor announced on Friday that the jobless rate dipped 0.1 percent from December, to 3.4 percent. It said businesses added 517,000 jobs. That number shocked analysts, who had been expecting around 190,000. The department said most of the new jobs were in the leisure and hospitality sector.

President Joe Biden said the figures prove that his administration's economic plan is working.

He said, "More people are coming into the market looking for jobs and getting jobs. A positive sign for the health of the economy going forward. And even as the job market reaches historic highs, inflation continues to come down."

Business owners have been offering higher wages to attract all those new workers. However, that helps to drive up inflation. Policymakers at the Federal Reserve are keeping an eye on the figures, and say they are beginning to cool. Still, they say they need to see a "better balance" in the labor market.