Breaking: U.S. Jobs Surge Revives Fed Rate Hike Debate

The Chosun Ilbo · Kim Sung-mo · 2026-11-06 13:38 UTC

Breaking: U.S. Jobs Surge Revives Fed Rate Hike Debate October non-farm payrolls jump 165,000, unemployment falls to 4.1%, bolstering Federal Reserves inflation fight amid Middle East tensions

U.S. October jobs grew nearly three times higher than market expectations. The unemployment rate also fell to 4.1%, lower than expected, showing the U.S. labor market remains more resilient than anticipated. Analysts suggest the Federal Reserve, which had been concerned about slowing employment, now has more room to focus on curbing inflation.

The U.S. Department of Labor announced on the 6th (local time) that non-farm sector jobs increased by 165,000 in October compared to the previous month. This far exceeds the expert forecast of 59,000 compiled by Dow Jones. It is also more than three times the average monthly increase of 48,000 over the past 12 months.

The unemployment rate dropped by 0.1 percentage points from 4.2% in September to 4.1% in October. Markets had expected it to remain at 4.2%. The rate has fluctuated within a narrow range of 4.1–4.3% since March.

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