Economy & Washington
Payrolls Added 165,000 Jobs as Unemployment Held at 4.1 Percent
Professional services, health care and transportation led October hiring, while part-time work for economic reasons increased.
A stronger payroll estimate
U.S. nonfarm payroll employment increased by an estimated 165,000 in October, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported. The gain exceeded the 48,000 average monthly increase over the preceding twelve months. The unemployment rate was little changed at 4.1 percent, and the number of unemployed people remained near 7.1 million. The two figures come from separate establishment and household surveys.
Three sectors led the month
Professional and business services added 70,000 positions, including gains in technical services, administrative support and company management. Health care added 42,000 jobs, led by hospitals and home health. Transportation and warehousing added 25,000, with couriers and messengers accounting for most of that increase. Manufacturing continued to trend upward, with an estimated 19,000 additional jobs.
A mixed household picture
Labor-force participation was little changed at 61.9 percent, and the employment-population ratio was 59.3 percent. The number of people working part time for economic reasons increased by 339,000 to 4.8 million. Those workers wanted full-time employment but reported reduced hours or an inability to find full-time work, a distinction not captured by the headline unemployment rate alone.
Wages and hours
Average hourly earnings for private nonfarm workers increased 14 cents to $38, a 0.4 percent monthly rise and a 3.1 percent increase over twelve months. The average workweek remained 34.4 hours. These are broad averages rather than measures of any individual worker's pay, and the release does not adjust the reported wage change for consumer-price inflation.
Revisions matter
BLS revised August payroll growth upward by 53,000 and September by 31,000, adding 84,000 jobs to the combined prior estimates. Monthly figures change as more employers respond and seasonal factors are recalculated. The October report is the current official estimate, not a final count, and the November employment report is scheduled for December 4.
Primary evidence
Reporting note: This independently composed article is based on the linked primary records. Publication and event dates are stated separately. Agency claims are identified as such; an allegation, charge or scheduled event is not presented as a finding, conviction or completed event. Readers should consult the official record for amendments and later action.