An October jobs report showed employers added 165,000 jobs and unemployment was 4.1%. Separately, all three major indexes ended the week lower.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) said nonfarm payrolls increased by 165,000 during the month. FactSet’s median estimate, drawn from 24 forecasts collected before the release, was 65,000. The reported gain exceeded that projection by 100,000 jobs.
Average hourly earnings for private nonfarm employees rose 3.1% over the previous 12 months, the BLS reported. The figures covered hiring, unemployment and pay in October.
The weekly declines followed sharp losses Thursday: the S&P 500 dropped 4.4% and the Nasdaq fell 5.5%, the Associated Press reported. On Friday, the Nasdaq Composite closed at 24,579.42, up 1.1%, Nasdaq index data showed. The S&P 500 gained 0.31% to 7,376.86, according to the AP, while S&P Dow Jones Indices data put the Dow at 51,285.73, down 0.46%. EconoTimes previously covered Friday’s mixed market close.
For the week ending Nov. 6, the S&P 500 lost 2.7%, the Dow fell 0.9% and the Nasdaq declined 3.4%, the AP reported. The AP compared Thursday’s S&P 500 drop with the market decline after the April 2025 tariff announcement known as “Liberation Day.”
The AP reported that investors were weighing whether Democratic election gains could lead to tighter rules or slower construction of AI data centers. It also reported voter concerns that data centers could contribute to higher electricity bills. Reuters separately reported that investors were assessing whether the high cost of building data-center infrastructure might limit future returns.
The BLS set Dec. 4, 2026, for its next employment report, scheduled for 8:30 a.m. ET.
