US lost 105,000 jobs in October and added 64,000 in November, according to delayed data

Labor Market Overview - The US labor market showed unexpected growth in November, adding 64,000 jobs after a loss of 105,000 jobs in October, surpassing the consensus forecast of 40,000 jobs added [1] - The unemployment rate rose to 4.6%, marking a four-year high, amidst concerns regarding the strength of the US economy [2] Job Data Accuracy and Delays - The release of full October jobs data was canceled, and November's data was delayed due to a 43-day federal government shutdown, raising questions about the accuracy of the reported figures [3] - Federal government jobs decreased by 162,000 in October and by 6,000 in November [2] Federal Reserve Insights - Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell advised treating the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data with skepticism due to the impact of the government shutdown on data collection [4][7] - Powell indicated that the job market may be weaker than reported, suggesting an overcount in payroll job numbers, estimating a potential correction of about 60,000 jobs per month [7] Political Context and BLS Challenges - The BLS has faced scrutiny from the Trump administration, including the firing of its commissioner shortly after a jobs report was published, with claims of the report being "rigged" [8] - The agency's staffing has decreased by 20% under the Trump administration, with a total of 2,058 employees proposed for fiscal year 2024 compared to 1,851 for fiscal year 2026 [10]