The US jobs report for October 2026 comes out today, Friday, 6 November, at 8:30 AM in New York — 7:00 PM in India. It is the biggest economic number of the week, and it will shape what the Federal Reserve does next.

What economists expect

  • New jobs: about 65,000 added in October, up from just 29,000 in September
  • Unemployment rate: expected to hold at 4.2%
  • Wages: average hourly earnings expected to rise 0.3% for the month, after only 0.1% in September
  • Forecasts vary: the Dow Jones consensus is 59,000, while some forecasters expect as many as 100,000 to 125,000

Why this report matters

September’s report was weak — only 29,000 jobs added — and the Bureau of Labor Statistics also revised earlier months down. At the same time, other signs look better: private payrolls processor ADP reported 86,000 private jobs added in October, and job openings rose to 7.523 million in September.

The Federal Reserve held its benchmark rate at 3.75%–4.00% on 28 October. Markets are watching this report closely because a strong number makes a December rate hike more likely, while a weak number would point the other way.

What to watch after the release

  • The headline number: whether payrolls beat or miss the 65,000 consensus
  • Revisions: the BLS often revises the previous two months — September’s weak 29,000 could move either way
  • Wages: a 0.3% rise would show pay is still growing steadily; a bigger jump would worry the Fed about inflation
  • Unemployment: a move above 4.2% would be the first sign of real softening in the jobs market

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