U.S. economy added 165,000 jobs in October, way more than expected; unemployment rate slips to 4.1%

Nonfarm payrolls were expected to increase by 59,000 in October as the unemployment rate was expected to hold steady at 4.2%.

The U. S. economy added jobs at a much stronger-than-expected pace in October, while the unemployment rate moved lower as the labor market showed surprising strength.

Nonfarm payrolls increased by a seasonally adjusted 165,000 for the month, compared with the Dow Jones estimate for 59,000, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Friday.

The unemployment rate nudged down to 4.1%, compared with the forecast for 4.2%.

A more encompassing measure that includes discouraged workers and those holding part-time jobs for economic reasons rose to 7.9%, up 0.3 percentage point, amid an increase of 421,000 in the civilian labor force.

In addition to the strong payroll gains for October, prior months were revised up substantially: The August figure moved to 186,000, an upward revision of 53,000, while the September count shifted to 60,000 following an upward revision of 31,000.

Average hourly earnings increased 0.4% on the month and 3.1% annually, compared with respective estimates for 0.3% and 2.9%.

"Payrolls growth surprised firmly to the upside, unemployment fell back to 4.1%, and job creation remains broad-based, pointing to an economy that is still absorbing labor comfortably rather than one beginning to buckle under tighter financial conditions.

"In 2025, the economy added barely 10,000 jobs a month and basically all were in healthcare. ...