US payrolls rise as Canadian employment holds steady in October

US payroll gains and revisions

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reported on November 6 that nonfarm payrolls rose by 165,000 in October. Professional and business services added 70,000 jobs. Revisions raised the combined August and September gains by 84,000. The unemployment rate changed little at 4.1%.

Payroll figures count jobs in an employer survey covering the pay period that includes October 12. Unemployment comes from a separate household survey covering the week containing that date. The figures are seasonally adjusted, and October payroll estimates are preliminary. Industry totals cannot identify hiring in a particular occupation.

Sources: US Bureau of Labor Statistics

Canadian unemployment increases

Statistics Canada reported that employment changed little in October, down 4,700. The unemployment rate rose 0.2 percentage points to 6.7%. For people aged 15 to 24 in the labour force, it increased 0.7 percentage points to 13.7%.

These seasonally adjusted household survey estimates count people and reflect October 11–17. National figures exclude the territories. Monthly estimates carry sampling uncertainty. Estimating AI’s effect on employment would require separate evidence on adoption and staffing.

Sources: Statistics Canada

Our interpretation

For a career decision, compare several months of local vacancies with the responsibilities employers describe. A national industry gain is useful context, while the requirements of an actual opening help you decide what to demonstrate.