Transmission of material in this news release is embargoed until
USDL-18-1739
8:30 a.m. (EDT) Friday, November 2, 2018
Technical information:
Household data:
(202) 691-6378 cpsinfo@bls.gov www.bls.gov/cps
Establishment data:
(202) 691-6555 cesinfo@bls.gov www.bls.gov/ces
Media contact:
(202) 691-5902 PressOffice@bls.gov
THE EMPLOYMENT SITUATION OCTOBER 2018
Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 250,000 in October, and the unemployment rate was
unchanged at 3.7 percent, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Job gains occurred in
health care, in manufacturing, in construction, and in transportation and warehousing.
Hurricane Michael
Hurricane Michael made landfall in the Florida Panhandle on October 10, 2018, during the reference
periods for both the establishment and household surveys. Hurricane Michael had no discernible effect
on the national employment and unemployment estimates for October, and response rates for the two
surveys were within normal ranges. For information on how severe weather can affect employment and
hours data, see Question 8 in the Frequently Asked Questions section of this news release.
BLS will release the state estimates of employment and unemployment on November 16, 2018, at 10:00
a.m. (EST).
Chart 2. Nonfarm payroll employment over-the-month change,
seasonally adjusted, October 2016 October 2018
Thousands
Percent
3.0
3.5
4.0
4.5
5.0
5.5
6.0
Oct-16
Jan-17
Apr-17
Jul-17
Oct-17
Jan-18
Apr-18
Jul-18
Oct-18
Chart 1. Unemployment rate, seasonally adjusted,
October 2016 October 2018
-50
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
Oct-16
Jan-17
Apr-17
Jul-17
Oct-17
Jan-18
Apr-18
Jul-18
Oct-18
-2-
Household Survey Data
The unemployment rate remained at 3.7 percent in October, and the number of unemployed persons
was little changed at 6.1 million. Over the year, the unemployment rate and the number of unemployed
persons declined by 0.4 percentage point and 449,000, respectively. (See table A-1.)
Among th