U.S. Added 12,000 Jobs in October as Storms Sidelined Workers

Job growth slowed sharply last month, with workers sidelined by hurricane effects and the continuing Boeing strike.

The Labor Department on Friday reported that the economy added a seasonally adjusted 12,000 jobs in October, versus a September gain of 223,000. Economists polled by The Wall Street Journal, anticipating storm and strike effects, expected a gain of 100,000.

The unemployment rate stayed steady at 4.1%, in line with economists’ expectations.