Employment rose in October and the unemployment rate declined to 4.4 percent. The number of nonfarm payroll jobs increased by 92,000 in October, following gains of 148,000 in September and 230,000 in August (as revised). Employment continued to trend up in several service- providing industries, while manufacturing and construction lost jobs over the month. Average hourly earnings increased 6 cents, or 0.4 percent.

Job growth continued in professional and business services, with a gain of 43,000 in October. Employment increased over the month in management and technical consulting services and in business support services.

Health care added 23,000 jobs in October, as gains occurred in hospitals and in nursing and residential care facilities. Employment in the health care industry has risen by 302,000 over the year. Employment continued to grow over the month in food services and drinking places (+27,000). Mining employment rose by 5,000 in October; the industry has added 54,000 jobs over the year.

Manufacturing employment fell by 39,000 over the month. In October, job losses continued in wood products, and employment in motor vehicles and parts manufacturing decreased by 15,000. In plastics and rubber products, employment was down by 14,000 over the month, largely due to a strike. The factory workweek rose by 0.1 hour to 41.2 hours; overtime was unchanged at 4.3 hours.

Construction lost 26,000 jobs in October. Employment among residential specialty trade contractors fell by 31,000 over the month and has decreased by 99,000 since February, reflecting weakness in home building and remodeling.

Average hourly earnings for private production and nonsupervisory workers rose 6 cents in October to $16.91, a gain of 0.4 percent. Over the year, average hourly earnings were up 3.9 percent.