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Total non-farm payroll employment rose by 128,000 in October, and the unemployment rate was little changed at 3.6 percent, reports the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics in a news release.

Notable job gains occurred in the food services industry. Within manufacturing, employment in motor vehicles and parts decreased due to strike activity, which likely influenced the work of janitorial employees who clean these facilities. Federal government employment was down, reflecting a drop in the number of temporary jobs for the 2020 Census. 

The number of persons employed part time for economic reasons, at 4.4 million, changed little in October. These individuals, who would have preferred full-time employment, were working part time because their hours had been reduced or they were unable to find full-time jobs.

The average workweek for all employees on private non-farm payrolls was unchanged at 34.4 hours in October.

Janitorial employment in the United States has thrived as of late. In September, one publication determined janitorial work is one of 15 fastest growing professions in America based on its analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data.