US Government Shutdown Forces Cancellation of October Jobs Report
The US Labor Department has announced it will not release a complete jobs report for October 2025, citing major disruptions caused by the recent 43-day federal government shutdown. This unprecedented situation means economists and policymakers will be missing crucial data about the health of the American labor market during this period.
How the Shutdown Disrupted Data Collection
The extended government shutdown, which lasted for 43 days, severely impacted the department's ability to conduct its regular surveys. Officials confirmed on Wednesday, November 20, 2025, that they couldn't calculate the unemployment rate and other key metrics for October because the necessary household survey couldn't be conducted during the shutdown period.
Instead of a separate October report, the department will release partial October employment data alongside the complete November jobs report, now scheduled for December 16, 2025. This represents a significant delay from the normal schedule where the "employment situation" report typically arrives on the first Friday of each month.
What Data Will and Won't Be Available
The monthly jobs report consists of two critical components:
- The household survey used to determine the unemployment rate
- The establishment survey tracking job creation and wages
According to the Labor Department, the household survey for October cannot be conducted retroactively, meaning the unemployment rate for that month will remain unknown. However, the department was able to collect hiring numbers from employers through the establishment survey, and this data will be included in the December release.
The disruption has created a data gap that will affect how economists and Federal Reserve policymakers assess the labor market. The September jobs report, originally due on October 3, is now scheduled for release on Thursday, November 21, and is expected to receive extra scrutiny as it represents the last complete measurement available before the Fed's December 9-10 policy meeting.
Political Context and Official Response
Job reports have become increasingly contentious in recent months. The situation became particularly notable after President Donald Trump fired Bureau of Labor Statistics commissioner Erika McEntarfer following disappointing July jobs data.
Addressing potential concerns about the cancelled October report, McEntarfer took to social media platform Bluesky to clarify: "No conspiracy here, folks. BLS was entirely shutdown for six weeks. Payroll data from firms can be retroactively collected for October. The household survey cannot be conducted retrospectively. This is just a straightforward consequence of having all field staff furloughed for over a month."
The missing October data creates challenges for financial markets, policymakers, and businesses that rely on this information to make informed decisions about the state of the US economy.
