### U.S. Job Growth Slows to 12,000 in October Amid Strikes and Hurricanes

In a month marked by significant labor strikes and severe weather disruptions, U.S. job growth faltered in October with only 12,000 positions added, according to the latest report from the Labor Department. The unemployment rate held steady at 4.1 percent. This weak job creation was notably below economists' forecasts, signaling that either the impact of these disruptions was underestimated or that the underlying pace of job growth is decelerating.

The report is particularly significant as it is the last major employment data release before the upcoming election, where the economy remains a critical issue for voters. Additionally, it precedes a Federal Reserve meeting where officials will decide on possible further interest rate cuts.

Revisions to previous months have also painted a grimmer picture of the job market: August and September figures were adjusted downwards, reducing earlier estimates by 112,000 jobs. This means that the average job growth over the last three months stands at 104,000, a significant drop from the 189,000 average in the preceding six months.

The manufacturing sector saw a substantial decline, shedding 46,000 jobs, predominantly due to a strike at Boeing, which also affected its suppliers. Further compounding the situation were Hurricanes Helene and Milton, which wreaked havoc across the Southeast, particularly impacting the leisure and hospitality industries.

Despite the disappointing job numbers, wage growth showed strength, with average hourly earnings rising by 0.4 percent over the month and marking a 4 percent increase over the past year. However, part of this rise could be attributed to the loss of lower-paid positions due to the hurricanes.

The contrasting interpretations of the data have fueled political debate. Jared Bernstein, chairman of the White House Council of Economic Advisers, emphasized the steady unemployment rate as a more reliable measure, suggesting that the weak numbers were more noise than signal. Meanwhile, the Trump campaign labeled the report as catastrophic, blaming Vice President Kamala Harris for the economic slump.

As Election Day approaches, both camps are using the latest job figures to bolster their narratives, making the labor market a pivotal battleground in the political arena.