US Hiring Stumbles In November As Economy Adds Just 210,000 New Jobs

By FOX Business
Posted on 12/03/21 | News Source: FOX Business

U.S. job growth significantly undershot expectations in November, suggesting that difficulty in attracting new workers is weighing on the labor market's recovery from the pandemic, even as COVID-19 cases dissipate nationwide.

The Labor Department said in its monthly payroll report released Friday that payrolls in November rose by just 210,000, well below the 550,000 jobs forecast by Refinitiv economists. The unemployment rate (which is calculated based on a separate survey) dropped more than expected to 4.2% from 4.6% — the lowest level since the pandemic began.

The figure marks a significant drop from October's upwardly revised number of 546,000 and September's upwardly revised 379,000. There are still about 3.9 million fewer jobs than there were last February, before the crisis began. 

"Today's employment report is doubly disappointing, because the reference week occurred just as it looked like Covid was on the retreat," said Justin Wolfers, a University of Michigan economist. "This was a moment for people to return to malls and to return to work. The Covid-related news has only gotten worse since then."

The job growth stumble comes before the emergence of the newly identified omicron variant of COVID-19, which could jeopardize the global economy's recovery. There is still a lack of clarity over how dangerous the new variant is, including whether it is more transmissible or capable of causing more severe illness. Early evidence suggests an increased risk of reinfection. 

Public health officials have urged caution against panic.