Archive · 16 Dec 2025
US Employment Reports Show Mixed Results
The US government shutdown caused big problems for important reports about jobs and prices.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) couldn't release the unemployment rate for October, which is the first time this has ever happened.
They also couldn't collect data for the October Consumer Price Index (CPI) report.
The BLS combined the October and November job reports, but some key details were missing.
Economists thought the shutdown wouldn't badly affect the quality of the data, but there might be some issues with the CPI report because they had to collect prices later in the month.
The November job report showed a small increase in jobs, but the unemployment rate went up to 4.6%, the highest it's been since 2021.
Economists expected a smaller increase in jobs, but the actual numbers were a bit better than they thought.
US employers added 64,000 jobs in November 2025, but lost 105,000 jobs in October due to the government shutdown.
The unemployment rate rose to 4.6%, the highest since 2021.
The November job gains beat economists' expectations of a 50,000 increase.
The reports for October and November were delayed due to the 43-day US federal government shutdown.
The October unemployment rate and Consumer Price Index (CPI) report were not available.
- Who
- US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
- What
- Delayed and incomplete employment reports for October and November
- When
- Reports released this week
- Where
- United States
- Why
- Government shutdown prevented data collection
- October Unemployment Rate
- Not available
- October CPI Report
- Canceled
- November Nonfarm Payrolls Forecast
- 50,000 jobs increase
- September Nonfarm Payrolls
- 119,000 jobs increase
- November Unemployment Rate Forecast
- 4.4%
- September Unemployment Rate
- 4.4%
- September Unemployment Rate (August)
- 4.3%
- September Establishment Survey Response Rate
- 80.2%
- Average Establishment Survey Response Rate (12 months)
- 61.8%
- October Job Losses
- 105,000 jobs
- November Job Gains
- 64,000 jobs
- November Unemployment Rate
- 4.6%
Sources
Delayed US employment reports for October and November are due this week, with many gaps
US Jobs Data Today: What will be missing and what it means for American economy
US employment report: 64,000 jobs created in November 2025, but unemployment at four-year-high
US unemployment rate unexpectedly jumps to 4.6% in November, highest since 2021
