According to CNBC, economists expect nonfarm payrolls to increase by 59,000 in October, up from 29,000 in September, while the unemployment rate holds at 4.2%, according to the Dow Jones consensus. The Bureau of Labor Statistics is scheduled to release the report Friday at 8:30 a.m. ET. Payroll growth averaged 35,000 from January 2025 through September 2026, while the labor force contracted by 434,000 during that period. Initial jobless claims fell to 189,000 last week, their lowest level since July, and job openings increased by 333,000 in September. Long-term unemployment has also risen: the number of workers unemployed for more than 25 weeks increased by 495,000 since January 2025, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data through September.