U.S. Payroll Employment Rises by 165,000 in October

What changed

U.S. nonfarm payroll employment rose by 165,000 in October. The unemployment rate changed little at 4.1%.

Hiring increased in:

• Professional and business services
• Health care
• Transportation and warehousing

Why it matters

The figures point to continued employment growth across several important parts of the economy, while the unemployment rate remained broadly steady. That combination suggests the labor market changed in October without a sharp shift in the share of people out of work.

The mix of gains matters. Professional and business services, health care, and transportation and warehousing all added jobs, giving the increase a broader base than a single-industry bump. But the October numbers alone do not show whether these gains will last or what broader economic effects they will produce.