Key facts
- Professional and business services added 70,000 payrolls in October, above its 15,000 monthly average over the past year, per the report.
- Temporary help services added 18,600 jobs in October after a drop of 5,600 in September, per the report.
- Healthcare added about 42,000 jobs and manufacturing added 19,000 in October, per the report.
- Transportation and warehousing gained about 25,000 jobs, with couriers and messengers at 70% of that, per the report.
- ZipRecruiter economist Nicole Bachaud said AI is changing role requirements and skills in demand, which she said drives volatility.
The US labor market added jobs in October, and professional and business services, a broad sector covering legal services, consulting and scientific research, added 70,000 payrolls, according to a report published November 6, 2026. That was well above the sector's average monthly gain of 15,000 jobs over the past year.
Heather Long, chief economist at Navy Federal Credit Union, said in written commentary that the bounce back in professional and business services is a good reminder that AI is not wiping out white-collar jobs, citing a big boost in administrative assistant hiring.
Nicole Bachaud, an economist at ZipRecruiter, told Business Insider that AI is changing role requirements and the skills in demand, which she said is leading to volatility in tech-related industries. Employers may be looking for AI knowledge or soft skills such as critical thinking rather than traditional technical skills, she said, adding that she expects more turnover and volatility in professional and business services, financial activities and information.
Some of the gain came from temporary staffers: help services added 18,600 jobs in October after a drop of 5,600 in September. Bachaud said that indicates employers are starting to make business commitments without hiring new full-time workers.
Cory Stahle, senior economist at Indeed, told Business Insider he questions how sustainable the growth is and said the sector remains below its long-term trend. He said it is too early from a single report, especially on a noisy industry, to draw conclusions about AI or knowledge workers.
Data center construction did not prevent the construction industry from shedding jobs, with gains in electricians and specialty contractors not enough to offset losses elsewhere. Healthcare added about 42,000 jobs and manufacturing added 19,000. Transportation and warehousing gained about 25,000, with couriers and messengers accounting for 70% of that. Bachaud said the courier uptick might indicate the holiday shopping season is ramping up more than expected.