U.S. Payroll Growth Stalls as Hiring Weakens, Unemployment Rises, and Wage Growth Slows

U.S. Payroll Growth Stalls as Labor Market Shows Signs of Cooling

U.S. labor market data for November delivered a mixed signal for traders, with payroll growth modestly beating expectations while broader indicators pointed to softer underlying conditions. The delayed Employment Situation report, released after a federal government shutdown, showed limited job creation and a higher unemployment rate, reinforcing questions about labor market momentum heading into year-end .

Payroll Gains Beat Estimates but Remain Muted

Nonfarm payrolls increased by 64,000 in November, above the Dow Jones consensus forecast of 45,000 but well below levels typically associated with strong expansion . The gain followed a sharp downward move in October, when payrolls fell by 105,000 after data collection disruptions linked to the shutdown. The Bureau of Labor Statistics noted that overall employment has shown little net change since April, underscoring a prolonged period of weak job creation .

Unemployment Rate Rises as Participation Holds Steady

The unemployment rate rose to 4.6% in November, exceeding market expectations and marking an increase from earlier in the fall . The number of unemployed climbed to 7.8 million, while the labor force participation rate held at 62.5%, suggesting the rise in joblessness was driven by hiring softness rather than workers re-entering the labor market . Longer-term indicators showed little improvement, with long-term unemployment steady at 1.9 million.

Sector Performance Highlights Defensive Hiring

Job gains were concentrated in health care, which added 46,000 positions, and construction, which expanded payrolls by 28,000 . These increases were partially offset by continued losses in federal government employment, down 6,000 in November following a steep October decline tied to deferred resignations. Transportation and warehousing shed 18,000 jobs, extending a downtrend from earlier in the year. Most other major industries, including manufacturing, financial activities, and professional services, showed little change.

Wage Growth Slows as Earnings Edge Higher

Average hourly earnings rose by 0.1% to $36.86, bringing annual wage growth to 3.5% . The average workweek edged up to 34.3 hours, offering limited support to aggregate income growth. These figures suggest easing wage pressure, a key variable for Federal Reserve policy expectations.

Market Forecast: Bearish Bias for Risk Assets

The combination of subdued payroll growth, rising unemployment, and cooling wage momentum supports a cautious near-term outlook. For traders, the data reinforces expectations that economic activity is losing pace, favoring a defensive stance across risk-sensitive assets. In the short term, this backdrop leans bearish for equities while supporting bonds and rate-sensitive instruments as markets continue to price a slower U.S. growth profile.