US job growth bounced back in November | CNN Business

When the Bureau of Labor Statistics releases the November jobs data at 8:30 am ET, it is expected to show a sharp rebound from an October report that was bogged down and muddied by back-to-back hurricanes and a major labor strike.

“We had a report last month for which I told my readers, ‘Just throw it away,’” said Dan North, Allianz Trade’s senior economist for North America. “So, what’s going to happen this coming month? Is there going to be a huge bounce back? Well, that would be rational.”

When plugging in those striking and weather-waylaid workers, November’s report is expected to show a net gain of 207,500 jobs, according to consensus estimates on FactSet. The unemployment rate — which has served as an unofficial polestar amid the wild distortions — is expected to remain at 4.1%, where it’s been since September.

“The Boeing strike, the hurricanes, and now the prospect of large-scale deportations make the headline jobs numbers difficult to read,” said Dean Baker, senior economist at CEPR, in a note this week. “Nonetheless, the overall labor market picture still looks mostly strong, albeit with some serious question marks.”