October job growth rebounded strongly from hurricanes, while unemployment sunk to a 17-year low

Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 261,000 in October, which compares to just 18,000 in September and 124,000 during the same month of 2016.  The unemployment rate edged down to 4.1 percent, which is the lowest posted since December of 2000.  Employment in food services and drinking places increased sharply, mostly offsetting a decline in September that largely reflected the impact of Hurricanes Irma and Harvey. In October, job gains also occurred in professional and business services, manufacturing, and health care.

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