Ethereum Price Prediction Ahead of U.S Unemployment Data Drops Today

Ethereum price remains near $3,120 after facing resistance earlier this week. The broader crypto market stabilized, with most coins holding key support levels. Bitcoin rebounded after briefly touching $90,000, while XRP showed signs of recovery near $2.07. 

Ethererum has been making higher lows, despite the short-term selling pressure. This is a sign that trend support is not lost. The U.S unemployment figures that will come out later today are awaited by traders as more direction on the market.

Unemployment Rate Data to Be Released Today at 8:30 AM ET

The Bureau of Labor Statistics is set to publish December’s U.S. unemployment data today at 8:30 a.m. ET, marking its first release since the record-breaking government shutdown.

Markets are on edge, as the report is expected to influence risk sentiment. The risk assets may be boosted with a lower-than-anticipated unemployment figure and may be driven with a high one.

Economists predict that there will be a small rise in the labor conditions, and the unemployment would decrease to 4.5% as compared to November when it stood at 4.6%. The payrolls are expected to bring on board 73,000 new workers in December.

Unemployment has reached a peak since the middle of 2021 in November. In October and November 41,000 jobs were lost.

🇺🇸 US UNEMPLOYMENT DATA DROPS TODAY AT 8:30 AM ET

Expected: 4.5%
Previous: 4.6%

Downside surprise = bullish for risk assets.
Upside shock = markets move fast.

What’s your prediction? pic.twitter.com/yQXrKkJ0YJ

— Money Ape (@TheMoneyApe) January 9, 2026

The last labor market snapshot will be the reading of December 2025. It is also a way back to normal data movement after a long period of delays during the shutdown.

According to economists, labor market trends have been hard to measure within the last few weeks. The current report is likely to shed light on the employment situation in the near future, in the year 2026.

Ethereum Price Faces Rejection Below $3,200 as Market  Pressure Builds

Ethereum price is struggling to overcome the $3,200 resistance that has limited new growth momentum.  Price action is still trapped at this point despite numerous efforts, indicating short-term support in bullish momentum.

$ETH is struggling to reclaim the $3,200 level now.

If this zone isn’t reclaimed soon, Ethereum will drop towards the $3,000 level. pic.twitter.com/qrY1PCsQ8q

— Ted (@TedPillows) January 9, 2026

The $3,200 area has become one of the major obstacles. Loss of this level may result in additional downside pressure. Market analysts say that Ethereum would be at risk of falling back to the support of $3,000 again unless bulls take over again.

Will Ethereum Price Hit $3,500 or Break Below $3,000 First?

The latest ETH price traded at $3,082, showing mild downside pressure on the 4-hour chart as bulls attempt to defend the $3,000 support zone

The MACD histogram is showing red bars, and the MACD line is lower than the signal line, and both are downward sloping. 

The MACD is below the signal line, which is a bearish momentum. A clean breakout above $3,300 opens room for a rally toward $3,500 in the short term as the Future Ethereum outlook remains bullish.

The price of Ethereum is still under a short-term consolidation pattern, yet it builds risks towards the downside. In case bulls do not regain the $3,150-$3,200 level, the token may revert to the $3,000 level or even lower. A recovery on this support can provide a short-term recovery to the level of $3,200.