Labor Department says it will not release October jobs report because of government shutdown

The Bureau of Labor Statistics confirmed Wednesday that it will not release the country's October jobs report, saying it couldn't collect enough required data during the 40-plus day federal government shutdown.

The government reopened last week after President Donald Trump signed a continuing resolution that keeps the government fully funded through January. 

The BLS said it was unable to do its traditional monthly survey of households, which makes up half of the federal jobs report, because nearly all of its staff was furloughed during the shutdown. But it does plan to include some information from October in its November jobs report on Dec. 16. 

The department is expected to release the September jobs report on Thursday, which was originally supposed to go up on Oct. 3, but was delayed by the shutdown.

The monthly jobs reports are considered a key asset for the Federal Reserve in deciding whether to raise, cut or maintain the country's benchmark interest rates.

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.