U.S. employers added 165,000 jobs in October, beating expectations and pushing unemployment down to 4.1% as the labor market showed fresh strength under President Donald Trump.
Friday’s jobs report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics also upgraded the previous two months. Employers added a combined 84,000 more jobs in August and September than initially reported.
Average hourly earnings rose 3.1% from a year earlier.
The stronger hiring numbers came as businesses navigated uncertainty over tariffs, higher energy costs tied to the Iran war and the growing role of artificial intelligence.
Employers have generally kept layoffs low and continued adding workers, helping the labor market hold its footing despite those pressures.
But the solid headline numbers have not made finding a job easy for everyone.
Recent college graduates and other job seekers have faced limited opportunities. Workers already collecting paychecks have also felt the squeeze as wage growth has slowed and inflation has eaten into their purchasing power.
Those pressures could help explain why many Americans remain unhappy with the economy even as unemployment stays low.
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Workers have generally been reluctant to leave their jobs, though a separate federal report released this week offered a tentative sign of movement.
The Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey showed the number of workers quitting increased to 3.4 million in September. BLS described the quits rate as little changed at 2.1%.
An increase in voluntary departures can suggest workers feel more confident about their ability to find another position.
Questions also remain about how artificial intelligence will affect hiring, particularly for workers seeking entry-level positions.
October’s jobs report nevertheless delivered a stronger hiring picture, reinforcing signs that employers are continuing to expand their payrolls.
