119k Jobs Added: Why Do Markets Care? | S2 E096 | 11-20-25
The September jobs report finally arrived after weeks of private data during the U.S. government shutdown, and it delivered a meaningful surprise. The U.S. economy added 119,000 jobs, far above expectations, even as the unemployment rate rose to 4.4%, the highest level since 2021. In this episode of Markets with Megan, we break down what the mixed labor picture means for the Federal Reserve, inflation, and market momentum heading into the December FOMC meeting.
Find out…
• Where job gains were concentrated (health care, leisure & hospitality)
• Which sectors showed weakness (professional services, temporary help, manufacturing)
• Why female labor-force participation is rising
• How the Fed may interpret this report as shutdown-delayed data starts flooding in
• Why tariff-driven inflation effects are still unknown
• How markets are reacting — including the impact of NVIDIA’s strong earnings
With government data finally restarting, this report sets the stage for a busy stretch of economic releases and a pivotal Fed decision.
📈 Listen in for a clear, calm breakdown of what today’s numbers actually mean for investors.
👉 Catch past episodes at MarketsWithMegan.fm
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