Economics

Hiring Trouble Ahead for U.S. Firms as Labor Supply Stays Weak

Participation rate rose in October; still far below pre-Covid
Black women, prime-age men led the decline in participation

U.S. Payrolls Climb by 531,000, Outstripping Estimates

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By Katia Dmitrieva

November 5, 2021 at 2:49 PM UTC

This article is for subscribers only.

The October jobs report showed a better-than-expected pick-up in U.S. hiring, but one key indicator points to a tougher time for employers in the months ahead.

The labor-force participation rate for workers aged 25 to 54 ticked up to 81.7%, well above the pandemic low but lingering far below pre-pandemic levels, the Bureau of Labor Statistics said Friday.