November's job growth came in lighter than usual, marking another soft patch in the labor market that's defined most of 2025. The weakness triggered further rate cuts from policymakers earlier this year. Still, here's the thing—the actual numbers beat what economists had penciled in. While hiring hasn't exactly surged, it's not collapsing either. This mixed signal matters for anyone watching market cycles: slower job creation typically keeps central banks cautious about future rate hikes, which ripples through asset valuations across the board.