The latest US jobs report is expected to show employers added about 60,000 positions last month, pointing to subdued growth while keeping the unemployment rate low.
The figures, due from the Labor Department, will offer a fresh indication of whether the labour market is holding steady as voters voice anger over rising prices and stagnant wages.
Although the forecast would represent weaker employment growth rather than a robust expansion, a stable jobs market could allow the Federal Reserve to concentrate on tackling persistent inflation. High prices are widely seen as having contributed to the outcome of this week’s midterm elections.
The employment data comes after a sharp fall in US shares. The technology-heavy Nasdaq dropped by more than 5 per cent in the latest session, wiping more than $2 trillion off market value.
Investors were concerned that a Democratic Congress could impose tighter regulation on artificial intelligence and data centres. The decline followed a rise on Wednesday, when markets reacted positively to greater clarity over the midterm result.
