News about labour market

Private-sector job growth held steady at 86,000 jobs in October, matching the downwardly revised September figure and slightly above the Dow Jones estimate of 75,000, according to ADP. Trade, transportation and utilities added 39,000 jobs, education and health services 28,000, and leisure and hospitality 19,000. Professional and business services fell by 27,000 and natural resources and mining by 8,000. Pay for job-changers rose 4.8% annually, and a BLS report showed quits hit their highest level since March 2025. The BLS nonfarm payrolls report is due Friday, with Dow Jones economists expecting a gain of 59,000 after September's 29,000.

U.S. job openings rose to a four-month high in September, and hiring also increased. The article suggests the gain is mild and may not be sustainable in a sluggish U.S. labor market.

Hiring platform Indeed data show the UK seasonal jobs market remains subdued even though jobseeker interest in Christmas work is holding up. As of 2 October, seasonal postings were 43% below their 2018 level, a steeper fall than the 32% drop across the wider UK jobs market, where overall postings are down 11% since the start of 2026. Graduate postings are down around 13% year on year and at their lowest for this time of year since 2020, while summer temporary and seasonal postings had one of their weakest summers in four years. Indeed's Senior Economist Jack Kennedy said subdued seasonal hiring means more competition for available roles, and that young people and other jobseekers seeking a temporary bridge into work face narrower opportunities.