Commissioner's Statement on the Employment Situation News Release — 2019-11-01

Advance copies of this statement are made available to the press under lock-up conditions with the explicit understanding that the data are embargoed until 8:30 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time. Nonfarm payroll employment increased by 128,000 in October, and the unemployment rate was little changed at 3.6 percent. Notable employment gains occurred in food services and drinking places, social assistance, and financial activities. Within manufacturing, employment declined in motor vehicles and parts due to strike activity. Federal government employment was down, reflecting a drop in the number of temporary jobs for the 2020 Census. Incorporating revisions for August and September, which increased nonfarm payroll employment by 95,000, monthly job gains have averaged 176,000 over the past 3 months. Job growth has averaged 167,000 per month thus far in 2019, compared with an average gain of 223,000 per month in 2018. Employment in food services and drinking places rose by 48,000 over the month.