November US Nonfarm Payrolls Rise More Than Expected After October Drop, Unemployment Rate Increases

08:43 AM EST, 12/16/2025 (MT Newswires) -- The November employment report showed nonfarm payrolls rose by 64,000, above the 50,000 increase expected in a survey compiled by Bloomberg, while October payrolls fell by 105,000 due to a 157,000-jobs decline in the government sector. September payrolls were revised down to a 108,000 increase.

Private payrolls rose by 69,000 in November after a 52,000 increase in October, above the increase of 50,000 private jobs expected. Health care and social assistance jobs rose by 64,000.

The unemployment rate rose to 4.6% in November from 4.4% in September, compared with a 4.5% rate expected, while the labor force participation rate rose to 62.5% from 62.4% in September. October data are not available due to the government shutdown.

Hourly earnings rose by 0.1%, slower than the 0.3% gain expected, and following a 0.4% increase in October. Hourly earnings were up 3.5% year-over-year.

The average workweek expanded to 34.3 hours from 34.2 hours in October, above the 34.2 hours expected.

The monthly employment report released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics consists of two separate surveys and is considered the most important data release for the month. The survey of businesses measures the levels of employment and wages and the length of the average workweek, broken down by industry.

The survey of households measures the number of people working or looking for work, the unemployment rate, those who have left the workforce, and reasons for part-time work.

Market reaction can be mixed, particularly when the two surveys conflict. A strong increase in employment or a decline in the unemployment rate is generally a positive for stocks and a sign of a strong US economy, but bonds would react negatively to the same news, particularly if wages rise sharply.

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