Jobs report, unemployment rate and earnings among economic data due Friday

As traders approach another pivotal day for financial markets, a series of crucial decisions and economic data releases that could sway market dynamics are expected. On Friday, November 6, 2026, the United States will release its closely watched jobs report, including nonfarm payrolls, the unemployment rate, and average hourly earnings. These labor market indicators serve as key barometers of economic health and typically influence Federal Reserve policy decisions. Additionally, Federal Reserve officials are scheduled to speak throughout the day, offering potential insights into the central bank’s monetary policy outlook.

Major Economic Events to Watch

• 8:30 AM ET - Nonfarm Payrolls: Forecast 65K, Previous 29K - Measures the change in the number of people employed during the previous month, excluding the farming industry, and serves as the foremost indicator of consumer spending.

• 8:30 AM ET - Unemployment Rate: Forecast 4.2%, Previous 4.2% - Measures the percentage of the total workforce that is unemployed and actively seeking employment during the previous month.

• 8:30 AM ET - Average Hourly Earnings (MoM): Forecast 0.3%, Previous 0.1% - Measures the change in the price businesses pay for labor, not including the agricultural sector.

Other Important Economic Events to Watch

• 4:30 AM ET - FOMC Member Williams Speaks - Federal Reserve Bank of New York President John Williams delivers remarks that may provide insight into monetary policy direction.

• 8:30 AM ET - Average Hourly Earnings (YoY): Forecast 2.9%, Previous 3.0% - Annual measure of wage growth across the economy.

• 8:30 AM ET - Participation Rate: Previous 61.8% - Measures the share of the working-age population either working or looking for work, indicating labor supply.

• 8:30 AM ET - Private Nonfarm Payrolls: Forecast 64K, Previous 46K - Measures the change in the number of paid U.S. workers excluding government employees, nonprofit workers, and farm employees.

• 10:00 AM ET - Michigan Consumer Sentiment: Forecast 47.8, Previous 48.0 - Final reading of the University of Michigan’s survey rating relative levels of current and future economic conditions.

• 10:00 AM ET - Michigan Consumer Expectations: Forecast 49.5, Previous 48.8 - The expectations component of the Michigan sentiment index based on consumer outlook for future conditions.

• 12:15 PM ET - FOMC Member Bowman Speaks - Federal Reserve Governor Michelle Bowman delivers remarks that may signal future monetary policy direction.

• 1:00 PM ET - Baker Hughes U.S. Rig Count: Previous 462 - An important business barometer for the oil drilling industry that acts as a leading indicator of demand for oil products.

• 1:00 PM ET - U.S. Baker Hughes Total Rig Count: Previous 603 - Total count of active drilling rigs including oil and gas operations.

• 2:30 PM ET - CFTC Crude Oil Speculative Positions: Previous 74.3K - Weekly report showing net positions of speculative traders in crude oil futures markets.

• 2:30 PM ET - CFTC Gold Speculative Positions: Previous 186.5K - Breakdown of net positions for speculative traders in gold futures, used to analyze market sentiment.

• 2:30 PM ET - CFTC Nasdaq 100 Speculative Positions: Previous 48.8K - Weekly commitments of traders report for Nasdaq 100 futures contracts.

• 2:30 PM ET - CFTC S&P 500 Speculative Positions: Previous -134.4K - Breakdown of net positions for speculative traders in S&P 500 futures markets.

• 3:00 PM ET - Consumer Credit: Forecast $12.00B, Previous $8.28B - Measures the change in total outstanding consumer credit requiring installment payments, closely correlated with consumer spending and confidence.

Other Economic Events to Watch

• 7:00 PM ET (Nov 5) - Fed Logan Speaks - Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas President Lorie Logan delivers remarks.

• 8:30 AM ET - Manufacturing Payrolls: Previous 9K - Measures employment changes specifically in the manufacturing sector.

• 8:30 AM ET - Government Payrolls: Previous -17.0K - Tracks changes in government sector employment at federal, state, and local levels.

• 8:30 AM ET - U6 Unemployment Rate: Previous 7.6% - Broader measure of unemployment including marginally attached workers and those employed part-time for economic reasons.

• 8:30 AM ET - Average Weekly Hours: Forecast 34.4, Previous 34.4 - Measures the average number of hours worked by employees on non-farm payrolls.

• 10:00 AM ET - Michigan Current Conditions: Forecast 48.0, Previous 46.7 - The current conditions component of the Michigan sentiment index reflecting present economic assessments.

• 10:00 AM ET - Michigan 1-Year Inflation Expectations: Previous 4.7% - Measures the percentage consumers expect prices to change over the next 12 months.

• 10:00 AM ET - Michigan 5-Year Inflation Expectations: Previous 3.5% - Survey presenting median expected price changes for the next five years.

• 2:30 PM ET - CFTC Aluminium Speculative Net Positions: Previous -1.0K - Weekly commitments of traders report for aluminum futures contracts.

• 2:30 PM ET - CFTC Copper Speculative Positions: Previous 48.3K - Breakdown of net positions for speculative traders in copper futures markets.

• 2:30 PM ET - CFTC Silver Speculative Positions: Previous 19.7K - Weekly report showing speculative trader positions in silver futures.

• 2:30 PM ET - CFTC Natural Gas Speculative Positions: Previous -255.2K - Commitments of traders data for natural gas futures contracts.

• 2:30 PM ET - CFTC Wheat Speculative Positions: Previous -50.8K - Weekly report on speculative positions in wheat futures markets.

• 2:30 PM ET - CFTC Corn Speculative Positions: Previous 201.3K - Breakdown of net positions for speculative traders in corn futures.

• 2:30 PM ET - CFTC Soybeans Speculative Positions: Previous 204.1K - Weekly commitments of traders report for soybean futures contracts.

For further information and the latest updates, please refer to our Economic Calendar, here.