November 2026_________________________
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The BLS Establishment Job Report with data released November 6, 2026.
Commentary From This Month’s Establishment Jobs Press Report
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) published its November report for jobs in October. The Household Survey for October shows the adult civilian population increased by 128 thousand. The employed were up 463 thousand as a result of population growth, 293 thousand entering the labor force and a decline of 41 thousand of the unemployed. The decrease in the unemployed was large enough to lower the unemployment rate .1 percent to 4.1 percent. The labor force participation rate increased .1 percent to 61.9 percent, low but better.
Goods production had 15 thousand new jobs but with
natural resources down a thousand jobs and construction down 3 thousand jobs.
Specialty trade contractors were down a net 7.3 thousand jobs, with residential
contractors off 15.2 thousand jobs while non-residential contractors added 7.9
thousand jobs. Construction of buildings added lost another 1.7 thousand jobs;
heavy and civil engineering construction added 2.5 thousand jobs.
Manufacturing had an increase of 19 thousand jobs with
25 thousand more durable goods jobs but with jobs down 6 thousand in
non-durable goods production. Among durable goods, computer and electronic
machinery added 6.7 thousand jobs; fabricated metal manufacturing added 5.9
thousand jobs; machinery manufacturing added 3.9 thousand jobs and
transportation equipment added another 4.1 thousand jobs among other small
losses. Non-durable goods production did poorly but food manufacturing,
petroleum and chemical had a combined total of a thousand new jobs.
Government service employment was up a net 6 thousand
jobs. The federal government dropped a thousand jobs. State government was up 8
thousand jobs while local government was down a thousand jobs. Both state and
local government excluding education were down a combined 8.9 thousand jobs:
state government down 2.6 thousand jobs, but local government off 6.3 thousand
jobs. However, state public education was up 11.5 thousand jobs, an unusual
increase, with local government education up as well, adding 4.8 thousand jobs.
Private sector education was off 2 thousand jobs for a net education job gain
of 14.3 thousand jobs.
Professional and business took first place among
service sectors with 70 thousand new jobs, a much larger increase than recent
months. The professional and technical service sub sector was up a net 32.9
thousand jobs; management of companies was up 8.7 thousand jobs. The third sub
sector, administrative and support services including waste management, was up
28.1 thousand jobs.
Among professional and technical services, management
and technical consulting services added 17.3 thousand jobs; architecture and
engineering services another 4.9 thousand jobs and scientific research and
development services added 4.1 thousand. Computer systems and design services
recovered from last month’s drop adding a modest 3.2 thousand jobs among other
small gains and losses. Administrative support services did well after last
month’s decline with employment services adding 20.3 thousand jobs. Services to
buildings and dwellings added 3.5 thousand jobs among other small gains and
losses.
Health care did better than last month but still added
only a modest 55 thousand jobs. All of the four health care subsectors added
jobs with ambulatory care adding 19.4 thousand jobs; hospitals added another 16
thousand jobs. Nursing and residential care was up 6.2 thousand jobs. Social
assistance services added a net of 13.5 thousand jobs with 16.4 thousand of the
new jobs in individual and family services offset with another month of
decreasing jobs in child care services, down 3.1 thousand jobs. The growth rate
for health care was up from last month to 2.76 percent, well above the average
of 2.26 percent per month of the last 15 years.
Trade, transportation and utilities added a net 22
thousand jobs with wholesale trade down 9.1 thousand jobs but retail trade up 6
thousand jobs. Transportation had 24.8 thousand jobs. Only air travel with 3.5
thousand jobs did well in modal transportation but couriers and messengers
posted job gains of 17.4 thousand. Support activities for transportation added
another 5 thousand jobs among other smaller gains and losses. Utilities added
100 jobs.
Leisure and hospitality declined 13 thousand jobs
following two months of increase. The arts, entertainment and recreation sub
sector lost 2.6 thousand jobs with the amusement, gambling and recreation
subsector was down 2.3 thousand of the jobs. Accommodation and food services
did poorly with accommodations down 3.4 thousand jobs and restaurants down 7.2
thousand jobs.
Information services lost a thousand jobs, a third
month of job losses. The publishing industry lost jobs again, down 4.1
thousand jobs. The motion picture and sound recording industries offset some of
the job losses with 3.2 thousand new jobs. Finance and real estate added 7
thousand jobs. Finance and insurance added a mere 1.3 thousand jobs, even
though insurance carriers lost 5.5 thousand jobs. Credit intermediation, banks,
had enough jobs to offset the losses. Real estate was up 4.3 thousand jobs and
rental and leasing services had 1.2 thousand new jobs. The other services
category had 6 thousand more jobs with all three sub sectors adding jobs.
Repair and maintenance services had the most new jobs, 2.6 thousand jobs.
Personal and laundry services was up 1.6 thousand jobs while there were 600
more jobs at non-profit associations.
The economy added
165 thousand jobs for October. Establishment employment in October was reported
as 159.293 million with an annual growth rate of +1.24 percent, better but not
great. Health care did a little better this month, but continues to underperform.
Professional and business services had its best month in more than a year.
Nothing else stands out in a better month than recent months, but still nothing
more than average. This month’s job total is 885 thousand above September a
year ago and 1.348 million jobs above October two years ago. Both
totals are low, but higher than recently.
October Details
Jobs
Total
Non-Farm Establishment Jobs up
165,000 to 159,293,000
Total
Private Jobs up
159,000 to 135,961,000
Total Government Employment up 6,000 to 23,332,000 Note
Civilian
Non-Institutional Population up 128 thousand to 275,682,000
Civilian
Labor Force up
421 thousand to 170,683,000
Employed up 463 thousand to 163,615,000
Employed
Men up
226 thousand to 85,721,000
Employed
Women
up 237 thousand to 77,894,000
Unemployed down 41 thousand to 7,068,000
Not in the Labor Force down 293 thousand to 104,999,000
Unemployment
Rate
decreased by .1% to 4.1% or 7,068/170,683
Labor Force Participation Rate increased .1 percent to 61.9%, or 170,683/275,682
Summaries by Industry
Non Farm Total +165
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported Non-Farm employment for establishments increased from September by 165 thousand jobs for a(n) October total of 159.293 million. (Note 1 below) An increase of 165 thousand each month for the next 12 months represents an annual growth rate of 1.24% The annual growth rate from a year ago beginning October 2025 was +.56%; the average annual growth rate from 5 years ago beginning October 2021 was +1.48%; from 15 years ago beginning October 2011 it was +1.23%. America needs growth around 1.5 percent a year to keep itself employed.
Sector breakdown for 12 Sectors in 000’s of jobs
1. Natural Resources -1
Natural Resources jobs including logging and mining decreased 1 thousand from September with 605 thousand jobs in October. A decrease of 1 thousand jobs each month for the next 12 months would be an annual growth rate of -1.98 percent. Natural resource jobs were down 1 thousand from a year ago. Jobs in 2000 averaged around 603 thousand with little prospect for growth. This is the smallest of 12 major sectors of the economy with .4 percent of establishment jobs.
2. Construction -3
Construction jobs were down 3 thousand from September with 8.367 million jobs in October. A decrease of 3 thousand jobs each month for the next 12 months would be an annual growth rate of -.43 percent. Construction jobs are up 124 thousand for the 12 months just ended. The growth rate for the last 15 years is 2.73%. Construction jobs rank 9th among the 12 sectors with 5.3 percent of non-farm employment.
3. Manufacturing +19
Manufacturing jobs were up 19 thousand from September with 12.681 million jobs in October. An increase of 19 thousand jobs each month for the next 12 months would be an annual growth rate of +.92 percent. Manufacturing jobs were up for the last 12 months by 78 thousand. The growth rate for the last 15 years is +.50%. Manufacturing ranks 6th among 12 major sectors in the economy with 7.9 percent of establishment jobs.
4. Trade, Transportation &
Utility +22
Trade, both wholesale and retail, transportation and utility employment were up 22 thousand jobs from September with 28.818 million jobs in October. An increase of 22 thousand jobs each month for the next 12 months would be an annual growth rate of +.92 percent. Jobs are up by 104 thousand for last 12 months. Growth rates for the last 15 years are +.93 percent. Jobs in these sectors rank first as the biggest sectors with combined employment of 18.1 percent of total establishment employment.
5. Information Services -1
Information Services employment was down by 1 thousand jobs from September with 2.734 million jobs in October. (Note 2 below) A decrease of 1 thousand jobs each month for the next 12 months would be an annual growth rate of -.44 percent. Jobs are down by 119 thousand for the last 12 months. Information jobs reached 3.7 million at the end of 2000, but started dropping, reaching 3 million by 2004 but has stayed below 3.0 million for more than a decade. Information Services is a small sector ranking 11th of 12 with 1.8 percent of establishment jobs.
6. Financial Activities +7
Financial Activities employment was up by 7 thousand jobs from September to 9.085 million in October. (Note 3 below) (Note 2 below) An increase of 7 thousand jobs each month for the next 12 months would be an annual growth rate of +.93 percent. Jobs are down by 99 thousand for the last 12 months. This sector also includes real estate as well as real estate lending. The 15 year growth rate is +1.11 percent. Financial activities rank 8th of 12 with 5.8 percent of establishment jobs.
7. Business and Professional
Services +70
Business and Professional Service jobs went up 70 thousand from September to 22.604 million in October. An increase of 70 thousand each month for the next 12 months would be an annual growth rate of +3.73 percent. Jobs are up 91 thousand for the last 12 months. Note 4 The annual growth rate for the last 15 years was +1.72 percent. It ranks as 2nd among the 12 sectors now. It was 2nd in 1993, when manufacturing was bigger and third rank now with 14.1 percent of establishment employment.
8. Education including public and
private +14
Education jobs were up 14 thousand jobs from September at 14.873 million in October. An increase of 14 thousand jobs each month for the next 12 months would be an annual growth rate of +1.15 percent. These include public and private education. Jobs are down 52 thousand for the last 12 months. (note 5) The 15 year growth rate equals +.66 percent. Education ranks 5th among 12 sectors with 9.4 percent of establishment jobs.
9. Health Care +55
Health care jobs were up 55 thousand from September to 24.005 million in October. An increase of 55 thousand each month for the next 12 months would be an annual growth rate of +2.76 percent. Jobs are up 519 thousand for the last 12 months. (note 6) The health care long term 15-year growth rate has been +2.26 percent lately compared to +2.76 percent for this month’s jobs. Health care ranks 2nd of 12 with 15.0 percent of establishment jobs.
10. Leisure and hospitality -13
Leisure and hospitality jobs were down 13 thousand from September to 16.964 million in October. (note 7) A decrease of 13 thousand each month for the next 12 months would be an annual growth rate of -.92 percent. Jobs are down 159 thousand for the last 12 months. More than 80 percent of leisure and hospitality are accommodations and restaurants assuring that most of the new jobs are in restaurants. Leisure and hospitality ranks 4th of 12 with 10.7 percent of establishment jobs. It moved up to 7th from 4th in the pandemic decline.
11. Other +6
Other Service jobs, which include repair, maintenance, personal services and non-profit organizations were up 6 thousand from September to 6.045 million in October. An increase of 6 thousand each month for the next 12 months would be an annual growth rate of +1.19 percent. Jobs are up 46 thousand for the last 12 months. (Note 8) Other services had +.78 percent growth for the last 15 years. These sectors rank 10th of 12 with 3.8 percent of total non-farm establishment jobs.
12. Government, excluding education -10
Government service employment went down 10 thousand from September at 12.512 million jobs in October. A decrease of 10 thousand each month for the next 12 months would be an annual growth rate of -.95 percent. Jobs are down 16 thousand for the last 12 months. (note 9) Government jobs excluding education tend to increase slowly with a 15 year growth rate of +.39 percent. Government, excluding education, ranks 7th of 12 with 7.9 percent of total non-farm establishment jobs.
Prices and inflation measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for all Urban Consumers was up by a monthly average of 2.9 percent for 2025.
The CPI October report for the 12 months ending with September shows the
CPI for All Items was up 3.7%
CPI for Food and Beverages was up 2.4%
CPI for Housing was up 3.3%
CPI for Apparel was up 3.4%
CPI for Transportation including
gasoline was up 7.9%
CPI for Medical Care was up 1.5%
CPI for Recreation was up 2.8%
CPI for Education was up 3.8%
CPI for Communication was up 1.1%
Sector Notes__________________________
(1) The total cited above is non-farm stablishment employment that counts jobs and not people. If one person has two jobs then two jobs are counted. It excludes agricultural employment and the self employed. Out of a total of people employed agricultural employment typically has about 1.5 percent, the self employed about 6.8 percent, the rest make up wage and salary employment. Jobs and people employed are close to the same, but not identical numbers because jobs are not the same as people employed: some hold two jobs. Remember all these totals are jobs. back
(2) Information Services is part of the new North American Industry Classification System(NAICS). It includes firms or establishments in publishing, motion picture & sound recording, broadcasting, Internet publishing and broadcasting, telecommunications, ISPs, web search portals, data processing, libraries, archives and a few others.back
(3) Financial Activities includes deposit and non-deposit credit firms, most of which are still known as banks, savings and loan and credit unions, but also real estate firms and general and commercial rental and leasing.back
(4) Business and Professional services includes the professional areas such as legal services, architecture, engineering, computing, advertising and supporting services including office services, facilities support, services to buildings, security services, employment agencies and so on.back
(5) Education includes private and public education. Therefore education job totals include public schools and colleges as well as private schools and colleges. back
(6) Health care includes ambulatory care, private hospitals, nursing and residential care, and social services including child care. back
(7) Leisure and hospitality has establishment with arts, entertainment and recreation which has performing arts, spectator sports, gambling, fitness centers and others, which are the leisure part. The hospitality part has accommodations, motels, hotels, RV parks, and full service and fast food restaurants. back
(8) Other is a smorgasbord of repair and maintenance services, especially car repair, personal services and non-profit services of organizations like foundations, social advocacy and civic groups, and business, professional, labor unions, political groups and political parties. back
(9) Government job totals include federal, state, and local government administrative work but without education jobs. back
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Notes
Jobs are not the same as employment because jobs are counted once but one person could have two jobs adding one to employment but two to jobs. Also the employment numbers include agricultural workers, the self employed, unpaid family workers, household workers and those on unpaid leave. Jobs are establishment jobs and non-other. back
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