US Nonfarm Payroll Increases by 64,000 in November; Unemployment at 4.6%

On Tuesday, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 64,000 in November, showing little net change since April.

The unemployment rate was 4.6%, with 7.8 million people unemployed. Both measures were higher than a year earlier. In November 2024, the jobless rate was 4.2%, and 7.1 million people were unemployed.

Growth occurred in the following sectors:

• Health care added 46,000 jobs, about in line with the average monthly gain of 39,000 over the prior 12 months.
• Construction employment rose by 28,000, as nonresidential specialty trade contractors added 19,000 jobs. Construction employment had changed little over the prior 12 months.
• Social assistance employment continued to trend higher, gaining 18,000 positions, reflecting continued growth in individual and family services.

Job gains were offset by losses in the following sectors:

• Transportation and warehousing declined by 18,000, reflecting declines in couriers and messengers. Transportation and warehousing employment has fallen by 78,000 since peaking in February.
• Federal government employment declined by 6,000, following a sharp drop of 162,000 in October, as some employees who accepted deferred resignation offers came off federal payrolls. Federal government employment is down by 271,000 since reaching a peak in January.

Employment showed little or no change over the month in most other major industries, including mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction; manufacturing; wholesale trade; retail trade; information; financial activities; professional and business services; leisure and hospitality; and other services.

Monthly Revisions

Revisions reflect additional reports received from businesses and government agencies and recalculations of seasonal factors.

The change in total nonfarm payroll employment for August was revised down by 22,000, from a loss of 4,000 jobs to a loss of 26,000, and the change for September was revised down by 11,000, from a gain of 119,000 to a gain of 108,000. With these revisions, employment in August and September combined is 33,000 lower than previously reported.

Due to the recent federal government shutdown, this release marks the first publication of October data, so there are no revisions for that month.