U.S. adds 165,000 jobs in October; unemployment rate at 4.1%
- U.S. nonfarm payrolls rose by 165,000 in October 2026, BLS data show.
- The U.S. unemployment rate changed little at 4.1%, with 7.1 million unemployed.
- Professional and business services added 70,000 jobs, well above its monthly average.
- BLS revised August and September up by a combined 84,000 jobs.
WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES — U.S. employers added 165,000 jobs in October, higher than the average monthly gain of 48,000 over the prior 12 months, while the unemployment rate changed little at 4.1%. Professional and business services, health care, and transportation and warehousing led the gains.
The number of unemployed people was also little changed at 7.1 million. The unemployment rate has stayed between 4.1% and 4.3% since March.
Business services lead
Employment in professional and business services rose by 70,000, well above the sector’s average monthly gain of 15,000. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) published the figures in its employment situation report on Nov. 6.
Professional, scientific and technical services added 33,000 jobs, and administrative and support and waste management services added 28,000. The sector has added 269,000 jobs since a low in October 2025.
Health care and transport
Health care added 42,000 jobs, above its average monthly gain of 31,000, with gains in hospitals, home health care and outpatient care centers. Transportation and warehousing added 25,000, led by couriers and messengers, and manufacturing added 19,000.
Average hourly earnings rose 0.4% to $38.00, up 3.1% over the past 12 months. The average workweek held at 34.4 hours.
The labor force participation rate was little changed at 61.9%, and the employment-population ratio at 59.3%. The long-term unemployed, those jobless for 27 weeks or more, numbered 2.0 million, or 27.6% of all unemployed people.
Earlier months revised up
BLS revised August’s gain up by 53,000 to 186,000 and September’s up by 31,000 to 60,000. Together, the two months were 84,000 jobs higher than first reported.
The number of people working part time for economic reasons rose by 339,000 to 4.8 million. These workers would have preferred full-time jobs.
The number of people outside the labor force who currently want a job was little changed at 6.0 million.
What it means for employers
October’s gains were concentrated in business services, health care, transportation and manufacturing, and the upward revisions point to a firmer labor market than earlier reports showed. Hiring in business services suggests companies are still adding capacity in support functions.
Employers facing tight hiring in support roles can weigh offshore outsourcing or staff augmentation, and compare options in OA’s ultimate guide to outsourcing.
Related news
- U.S. October job cuts hit 43,994, the lowest for the month since 2023 · 7 Nov 2026
- U.S. quits rise to 3.4Mn in September as job openings hold at 7.5Mn · 6 Nov 2026
- U.S. adds just 29,000 jobs in September as unemployment holds at 4.2% · 9 Oct 2026
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