Delays in the October Unemployment Rate Figure Present Major Risks to American Workers

On November 19th, the U.S. Department of Labor announced that it would delay its usual October estimate of the national unemployment rate until December. The recent government shutdown has impeded their ability to release the figures this month. This is not the first time the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has faced issues with calculating the unemployment rate, as the Trump Administration has raised issues over the integrity of its data collection methods. Recent doubts and delays over the number of unemployed workers in the United States have the potential to prolong the current rise in unemployment for American workers in the coming months.

Fellows, NationalDaniel ReyesJanuary 16, 2026Economy, US Economy, Unemployment, Inflation, Fed, Federal Reserve, DLSComment