# 165,000 Jobs Added, But Wages Still Losing to Inflation

- URL: https://twotakes.us/stories/165000-jobs-added-but-wages-still-losing-to-inflation
- Published: 2026-11-06T20:11:47.331759+00:00
- Topics: economy, jobs-report, inflation, labor-market, federal-reserve

## What the left says
- Inflation has now erased wage gains for seven straight months, meaning workers are falling further behind even as headline job numbers look strong.
- Low labor market turnover and stagnant workforce entry suggest underlying weakness is masked by a low unemployment rate.
- Ordinary Americans have seen few benefits from the AI-driven stock market boom, even as trillions in tech spending fuel some construction and manufacturing hiring.
- Voter frustration over high prices, reflected in recent midterm results, underscores that strong job numbers alone haven't eased the cost-of-living squeeze.

## What the right says
- The jobs report far exceeded expectations, with 165,000 jobs added versus forecasts of around 60,000, signaling real economic strength.
- Substantial upward revisions to August and September data show the labor market has been healthier than previously reported.
- Broad-based gains across manufacturing, professional services, and healthcare, along with a falling unemployment rate and rising labor force participation, point to a robust and widening recovery.
- Wage growth actually accelerated in October, and gains like falling Black unemployment and more people entering the workforce reflect genuine improvement in job quality and access.

## Common ground
- The U.S. economy added 165,000 jobs in October, beating economist expectations.
- The unemployment rate fell from 4.2% to 4.1%.
- August and September job figures were revised upward by a combined 84,000 jobs.
- Wage growth of 3.1% has not kept pace with inflation, which stood at 3.7% in September.

## Sources
- [NBC News](https://www.nbcnews.com/business/economy/us-added-jobs-october-risks-stagnation-rcna607812) (Lean Left)
- [New York Times](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/11/06/business/economy/economy-jobs-unemployment.html) (Lean Left)
- [ABC News](https://abcnews.com/Business/jobs-report-provide-latest-snapshot-hiring-days-after/story?id=137874249) (Lean Left)
- [Breitbart](https://www.breitbart.com/economy/2026/11/06/the-u-s-economy-added-165000-jobs-in-october/) (Unknown)
- [NPR](https://www.npr.org/2026/11/06/nx-s1-6030867/jobs-labor-market-economy-wages-inflation) (Lean Left)
- [The Daily Signal](https://www.dailysignal.com/2026/11/06/job-growth-surges-october-unemployment-falls/) (Right)
- [The Hill](https://thehill.com/business/6201764-us-jobs-report-october/) (Center)
- [Townhall](https://townhall.com/news/dmitri-bolt/2026/11/06/october-jobs-report-n2686042) (Right)
- [Washington Times](https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/nov/6/us-posts-huge-jobs-report-october-adding-165000-positions/) (Right)

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