Arabic version: الاستشارات والتوظيف المؤقت يدعمان تقرير وظائف أكتوبر

According to Cnbc, U.S. nonfarm payrolls increased by 165,000 in October, surpassing the 59,000-job gain forecast by economists polled by Dow Jones. Growth in consulting, temporary work and potentially election-related employment contributed to the stronger-than-expected result.

Management, scientific and technical consulting employment rose by 17,300 jobs from September to October, its largest monthly increase in nearly two years. The category accounted for 25% of gains in professional and business services, while its workforce grew by more than 45,000 over the past year to exceed 1.9 million workers for the first time on record.

Some economists said businesses may be hiring consultants to help adopt artificial intelligence. Gartner forecast in September that worldwide AI spending would reach $2.7 trillion in 2026, nearly 50% higher than a year earlier. Moody’s Analytics estimated that AI has created a net 786,000 jobs since ChatGPT launched in November 2022, partly through data-center construction.

Temporary-help payrolls increased by 18,600 in October, one of the category’s largest monthly gains since 2022 and 27% of professional and business services gains. Temporary employment is often viewed as a leading labor-market indicator, though the increase could also reflect earlier holiday-season staffing. Couriers and messengers accounted for just over one in 10 new jobs during the month.

Political employment may also have supported payrolls ahead of the 2026 congressional election. Bureau of Labor Statistics analysis shows political-organization staffing has historically risen before midterm and presidential elections and tends to peak in October. OpenSecrets said the 2026 congressional contest is expected to be the most expensive midterm election on record.