department will release the final jobs report for 2017. prediction 190,000 net new jobs for a total of 2.1 million jobs. the unemployment rate likely will hold at 1.4% at a 17-year low. they re missing one ingredient. strong wage growth. likely up 2.5%. like to see it more than that. it has been a weak spot for years. before the recession it hit 3% or more. economists equally blame globalization, more auto ms. ation. 18 states hiked the minimum wages january 1st. cities with very low unemployment like minneapolis and denver wages are growing 4% or more so we re hoping that this will be the year of wage hike. it s what proponents of the