Holiday hiring and AI in focus with October jobs report on deck

NBC News · Steve Kopack · 2026-11-05 23:00 UTC

A lukewarm job market may have picked up some steam last month, although slowing wage growth and the impact of AI remain big concerns.

A lukewarm job market may have gained some steam last month, as companies began hiring workers for the holiday season, although slowing wage growth and the impact of AI remain big concerns.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics is set to release the October jobs report at 8:30 a.m. ET Friday. Economists expect the report to show the U.S. added 59,000 roles, up from September’s 29,000, according to a survey conducted by Dow Jones. The unemployment rate is projected to remain unchanged at 4.2%.

Workers’ wages, however, are expected to show annual growth of 2.9%, well below the latest rate of inflation. In September, the annual rate of inflation rose to 3.7%. Since March, wages have grown more slowly than the pace of prices.

Read the full story at NBC News · All coverage of this story