News
06/11/26
US adds 165,000 jobs in October, well above forecasts
Houston, 6 November (Argus) — The US added 165,000 jobs in October, more than
double the forecasts, and revisions for the prior two months put the labor
market on a stronger trajectory than previously estimated. Job growth in October
compared with an upwardly revised 60,000 for September, from a prior 29,000,
while August was revised up to 186,000 from 133,000, the Bureau of Labor
Statistics (BLS) reported. That puts the three-month average at about 137,000
jobs, compared with 28,000 for the three months through July. The
stronger-than-expected jobs number could give the Federal Reserve more room to
concentrate on bringing down inflation, with the labor market appearing more
resilient than it did earlier this year. The Fed hiked its target rate by a
quarter point to 3.75-4pc at its meeting in September, the first hike since
mid-2023, and held it unchanged in October. "Labor demand has gained momentum
recently, but tighter financial conditions suggest a renewed slowdown is likely
in 2027," Pantheon Macroeconomics' chief US economist Samuel Tombs says in a
note. "The drag on office-based employment will intensify in 2027, given the
steady increase in the number of businesses using AI." Probability of a quarter
point rate hike by the Federal Reserve in December rose to 79.4pc after the
labor report compared with 67pc Thursday, according to the CME's FedWatch tool.
The unemployment rate ticked down to 4.1pc from 4.2pc. Average hourly earnings
rose by 0.4pc on the month and by an annual 3.1pc in October. Professional and
business services added 70,000 jobs, compared with 8,000 in the prior month.
Healthcare added 42,000 compared with 18,000 the prior month. Transport and
warehousing added 25,000 jobs last month compared with 7,000 the prior month.
Retail trade added 6,000 after a gain of 13,000 the prior month. Manufacturing
added 19,000 jobs compared with 13,000 the prior month and has added 101,000
jobs since a recent low in December 2025. Computer and electronic product
manufacturing added 7,000. Semiconductor, component and navigational instrument
jobs together added about 5,500. Primary metal manufacturing added 4,000 jobs.
Financial activities gained 7,000 after a loss of 14,000. Construction lost
3,000 jobs after gains of 16,000. Leisure and hospitality lost 13,000 job,
reversing a similar gain. Mining lost 1,000 jobs. The Federal government lost
1,000 jobs following losses of 3,000 the prior month, while state and local
government added 7,000 following losses of 15,000. By Bob Willis Send comments
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