BLS Cancels October Jobs Report Amid Government Shutdown, November Release Delayed to December 16

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) announced it will not publish the October jobs report, a critical economic indicator, due to the inability to collect household data during a government shutdown. The announcement, highlighted by Bloomberg's Joe Weisenthal, stated, "BLS SAYS IT WON'T PUBLISH OCT. JOBS REPORT." This unprecedented move means that key statistics like the unemployment rate for October will not be released.

The non-publication stems directly from a lapse in federal appropriations, which prevented the BLS from conducting its Current Population Survey (household survey) for the October reference period. BLS officials confirmed that this household survey data cannot be collected retroactively. While some establishment survey data for October will be incorporated into the November report, the comprehensive picture of the labor market will be incomplete.

The November jobs report, typically released on the first Friday of December, has also been delayed and is now scheduled for publication on Tuesday, December 16, 2025. This delay and the absence of the October report pose significant challenges for policymakers, particularly the Federal Reserve. The central bank relies heavily on labor market data to assess economic health and inform decisions regarding interest rates.

Economists and analysts are closely watching the implications of this data gap. The Federal Reserve's Open Market Committee, which has a meeting scheduled before the delayed November report's release, will operate with less current information. This situation could complicate decisions on potential interest rate adjustments, especially given concerns about a stagnant labor market and persistent inflation.