Surprisingly strong job growth in January.

U.S. employers added 304,000 people to their payrolls.

That's nearly double what economists had expected.

The two previous months' jobs gains were sharply revised downward.

The Labor Department said the longest federal government shutdown in history had no "discernible" impact on job growth.

Furloughed workers were included in the payrolls since they're guaranteed back pay.

But they were considered "unemployed" in the separate household survey that tracks unemployment.

That pushed up the jobless rate one-tenth percentage point to 4 percent.

Wages in January grew at a 3.2 percent annual rate.

The data released Friday shows the economy remains on solid ground.

State Street Global Advisors chief investment strategist Michael Arone called the report, "very solid," saying, "We did see average hourly numbers that continued to grow, but are not indicating any inflationary concerns that would cause the Fed to change its path on interest rates." Job gains were broad.

Sectors with the biggest jobs growth included leisure and hospitality, healthcare, and construction.

U.S. stocks opened mixed Friday morning.

Treasury yields rose as did the U.S. dollar index.