US Nonfarm Payroll Increases by 165,000 in October; Unemployment at 4.1%

On Friday, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 165,000 in October.

The unemployment rate stood at 4.1%, with 7.1 million people unemployed. Both measures changed little in October, and the unemployment rate has remained in a narrow range of 4.1–4.3% since March.

Growth was led by the following sectors:

• Professional and business services added 70,000 jobs, compared with an average monthly gain of 15,000 over the prior 12 months.
• Health care continued to trend upward, adding 42,000 jobs, compared with an average monthly gain of 31,000 over the prior 12 months.
• Transportation added 25,000 jobs.
• Manufacturing added 19,000 jobs and has gained 101,000 jobs since December 2025.

Employment showed little change over the month in most other major industries, including mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction; construction; wholesale trade; retail trade; information; financial activities; social assistance; leisure and hospitality; other services; and government.

Monthly Revisions

Revisions result from additional reports received from businesses and government agencies since the last published estimate and from recalculations of seasonal factors.

The change in total nonfarm payroll employment for August was revised up by 53,000, from 133,000 to 186,000, and the change for September was revised up by 31,000, from 29,000 to 60,000. With these revisions, employment in August and September combined is 84,000 higher than previously reported.