Pre-Election Jobs Report: Employers Add 161,000 Jobs

Just four days before the U.S. presidential election, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics released the October jobs reports. Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 161,000 in October, and the unemployment rate was little changed at 4.9 percent, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported. Employment continued to trend up in health care, professional and business services, and financial activities. 

The performance suggests a healthy outlook for the coming months, according to the New York Times. The data released also showed that more jobs were created in August and September than previously estimated. The source reports that just seven years post-recession, employment gains have been steady, leading to an increase in earnings.