October Jobs Report: US Adds 165,000 Jobs as Unemployment Edges Down to 4.1%
US employers added 165,000 jobs in October 2026 and the unemployment rate edged down to 4.1 percent, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported on Friday, November 6 — a far stronger result than economists had expected, and a sharp pickup from the weak hiring of recent months.
The Short Answer
Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 165,000 in October, and the unemployment rate changed little at 4.1 percent, the BLS reported on November 6, 2026. Hiring was led by professional and business services, health care and transportation and warehousing. The gain was more than three times the average monthly gain of 48,000 over the prior 12 months, and well above the roughly 59,000-70,000 economists had forecast.
What the October Report Showed
The Employment Situation report, released at 8:30 a.m. ET on Friday, November 6, was the first major economic data point since the November 3 midterm elections — and it beat expectations by a wide margin. Economists polled by Reuters had expected a gain of about 65,000 jobs and an unemployment rate of 4.2 percent; the Dow Jones consensus was about 59,000, and a Bloomberg survey pointed to roughly 70,000.
The unemployment rate fell to 4.1 percent from 4.2 percent, with 7.1 million people unemployed. The rate has remained in a narrow range of 4.1 percent to 4.3 percent since March 2026, according to the BLS.
Average hourly earnings for private workers rose 14 cents, or 0.4 percent, to $38.00 in October, and were up 3.1 percent from October 2025. The labour-force participation rate was 61.9 percent, and the average workweek was 34.4 hours.
Where the Jobs Came From
Employment increased in professional and business services, in health care, and in transportation and warehousing, the BLS said. Health care added 42,000 jobs in October, higher than its average monthly gain of 31,000 over the prior 12 months. Professional and business services has added 269,000 jobs since a recent low in October 2025.
Construction employment, by contrast, showed little change in October. And beneath the strong headline, the report contained a softer note: the number of people working part time for economic reasons jumped by 339,000 to 4.8 million — a reminder that not all of the new work is full-time work people want.
Revisions: The Summer Was Stronger Than First Reported
The BLS also revised earlier months sharply upward. August's gain was revised to 186,000 from 133,000, and September's to 60,000 from 29,000. Together, the revisions add more than 80,000 jobs to the summer picture that were not visible in the first estimates.
That matters because the October figures are preliminary and subject to revision in the next two releases — as September's was. The payroll estimate comes from a survey of businesses and government employers, while the unemployment rate comes from a separate household survey.
One data note: figures for October 2025 were not collected due to the federal government shutdown, which is why some year-on-year comparisons in the release carry a caveat.
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What It Means for Workers, the Fed and Politics
For workers, the report is encouraging but mixed: hiring rebounded, wages rose 3.1 percent over the year, and unemployment stayed low — yet the jump in involuntary part-time work suggests many employers are still cautious about committing to full-time hires. Analysts have described the market as "low-hire, low-fire": few layoffs, but little hiring momentum until now.
For the Federal Reserve, which meets on December 8-9, a strong jobs report complicates the picture. Reporting around the release noted that an interest rate hike is expected in December — a stronger labour market gives the Fed less reason to cut rates to support hiring.
Politically, the report landed three days after the midterms, in which voters cited the economy and the Iran war as top concerns. A 165,000-job month is the kind of number the White House will point to as evidence the economy is sturdy — even as the administration's post-midterm message has focused on softening its toughest policies. The next test comes on Friday, December 4, when the BLS publishes the Employment Situation for November 2026.
Key Facts at a Glance
- Jobs added: 165,000 nonfarm payroll jobs in October 2026 (BLS, released November 6, 8:30 a.m. ET).
- Unemployment rate: 4.1 percent, down from 4.2 percent; 7.1 million people unemployed.
- Wages: Average hourly earnings up 0.4 percent to $38.00; up 3.1 percent year on year.
- Leading sectors: Professional and business services, health care (+42,000), transportation and warehousing.
- Revisions: August revised to 186,000 (from 133,000); September to 60,000 (from 29,000).
- Expectations beaten: About 59,000-70,000 forecast; 12-month average gain was 48,000.
- Next report: November 2026 Employment Situation, Friday, December 4, 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many jobs did the US add in October 2026?
Employers added 165,000 nonfarm payroll jobs in October, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics report released on November 6, 2026.
What is the unemployment rate now?
4.1 percent, down from 4.2 percent in September. About 7.1 million people were unemployed, and the rate has stayed between 4.1 and 4.3 percent since March.
Which industries added the most jobs?
Professional and business services, health care (42,000 jobs) and transportation and warehousing led the gains. Construction employment showed little change.
How much did wages rise?
Average hourly earnings rose 14 cents, or 0.4 percent, to $38.00 in October, and were up 3.1 percent from October 2025.
Was the report better than expected?
Yes, by a wide margin. Economists had forecast roughly 59,000-70,000 new jobs. The 165,000 gain was also more than three times the average monthly gain of 48,000 over the prior 12 months.
When is the next jobs report?
The Employment Situation for November 2026 is scheduled for Friday, December 4, 2026, at 8:30 a.m. ET.
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