Dow scores fresh record despite tepid jobs report. Why the rest of 2026 is about workers.

The Dow reached a record closing high, rising over 1% after a soft U.S. jobs report eased interest rate hike concerns. While chipmaker stocks weighed on the Nasdaq, the Dow continued its climb. However, J.P. Morgan Asset Management strategists highlight that American workers are not receiving raises, indicating that labor trends will be critical through 2026. This divergence shows market optimism despite tepid employment data and stagnant wage growth for the workforce.