Liam Dann: Why good jobs data could point to higher interest rates 2 Feb, 2021 04:33 AM 4 minutes to read Did the economy create more jobs than it lost? We will find out tomorrow. Photo / NZME Did the economy create more jobs than it lost? We will find out tomorrow. Photo / NZME Economists say the unemployment rate almost certainly rose in the final quarter of 2020. But when new numbers (for the 4th quarter) are released tomorrow, there will be more focus on possible good news than bad. That is because if the unemployment rate comes in better than expected, financial markets are likely to see it as inflationary and apply upward pressure to interest rates.