MUNCIE, Ind. (WOWO): About 257-thousand  new jobs were created in the January. That's slightly higher than many had estimated and for some, eases concerns about the pace of economic growth. The January unemployment rate is 5.7%.

Ball State University economist Dr. Mike Hicks says wages are also up and about 700,000 hopefuls resumed job searches.

However, he says that one in five new jobs are part-time jobs and that a large number of the new, full-time jobs are held by people who have more than one job.

Hicks says that‘s perhaps one indicator of monetary stress. Hicks adds that higher wage jobs still remain elusive in the current economy.