Employment by Industry: November’s Results Backpedal

November was a major letdown for the U.S. labor market, which added just 210,000 jobs, though the unemployment rate ticked slightly lower. The latest data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics showed that the U.S. economy created far fewer jobs than expected in November, in a sign that hiring started to slow even ahead of the new COVID threat.

November’s results included nearly 82,000 more jobs than previously anticipated, as the October and September estimates were revised and moved up. It was a mixed bag of industries that accounted for growth last month. Substantial gains took place in professional and business services, adding 90,000 new jobs, transportation and warehousing payrolls increased 50,000, and construction added another 31,000 new jobs. But retail employment fell by 20,000 last month despite the traditional holiday hiring season.