Private Employers Shed 32,000 Jobs Last Month—Most Since 2023

Core Insights - The U.S. private sector experienced a significant decline in employment in November, with a loss of 32,000 jobs, contrasting sharply with Wall Street's expectation of a gain of 40,000 jobs [1][2] - This decline represents the largest single-month drop since March 2023, primarily driven by small businesses [2] Employment Trends - Companies with 50 or more employees reported a net gain of 90,000 jobs, while small businesses (fewer than 50 employees) faced a loss of 120,000 jobs, including a notable decline of 74,000 jobs among businesses with 20 to 49 employees [2] - Professional and business services led the job losses with a decrease of 26,000 roles, followed by information services (down 20,000), manufacturing (down 18,000), financial activities (down 9,000), and construction (down 9,000) [3] Wage Growth - Pay growth in November slowed, with year-over-year pay increasing by 4.4% for workers remaining in their positions, a decrease of 0.1% from October [3]