The October jobs report landed flat, delivering a disappointing 150,000 new jobs added — a sign of economic cooling. 

But this report alone doesn’t capture the broader trends developing beneath the surface. 

While seasonal strikes, a hurricane and hiring slowdowns contributed to the weaker-than-expected number, the real insight emerges when we take a step back and look at job creation trends over the past two years.

Revisions Continued a Long-Standing Trend 

Revisions to previous jobs reports show a steady downward trend, with job creation having peaked way back in February 2022. Since then, month after month, the pace of hiring has declined, signaling a worrisome long-term slowdown. It’s clear that while the labor market was booming post-pandemic, the momentum has waned significantly.

For investors and traders, this trend is crucial. 

With job growth in a sustained decline, there are two possible scenarios ahead. The hopeful one is that the upcoming election season spurs a catalyst for renewed growth — perhaps through business optimism or policy shifts favoring job creation. 

But if this election doesn’t bring a significant boost, the alternative could be a full-blown recession, as the slowing labor market may eventually fail to support consumer spending and economic expansion.

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