Catenaa, Tuesday, December 16, 2025- US jobs grew slightly more than expected to 64,000 in November, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Tuesday in numbers delayed by the government shutdown.
Job growth totaled 64,000 for the month, better than the Dow Jones estimate of 45,000.
The unemployment rate rose to 4.6%, more than expected ,and its highest level since September 2021. A more encompassing measure that includes discouraged workers and those holding part-time jobs for economic reasons swelled to 8.7%, its peak going back to August 2021.
In addition to the November report, the BLS released an abbreviated October count that showed payrolls down 105,000. While there was no official estimate, Wall Street economists were largely expecting a decline following a surprise increase of 108,000 in September.
The October slump came from a steep fall in government employment as deferred layoffs instituted earlier this year took effect. Government payrolls were off 162,000 for the month, and fell an additional 6,000 in November.
Nevertheless, the October decline marked the third time in six months that payrolls saw a net negative level. The BLS report also showed that August’s numbers were revised down 22,000 to show a steeper loss of 26,000, while September’s initial count was pushed lower by 11,000.
The job climate continues to be one of low hiring and low firing, impacted as well by stringent border practices under President Donald Trump that have drained the workforce of the usual influx of immigrants.
The establishment numbers showed most of the gains in November came from a familiar source: health care added 46,000 jobs, accounting for more than 70% of the total net increase. Construction added 28,000, while social assistance contributed 18,000.
