*By Carlo Versano* Major indices ended in the red on Friday, despite a stellar employment report from the Department of Labor for the month of October. Last month, The U.S. economy added 250,000 new jobs, average earnings climbed 3 percent year-over-year, and the unemployment rate stayed at 3.7 percent, the lowest it's been since the Nixon administration. But the strong headline numbers make it more likely the Fed will continue raising interest rates, which will lead to more uncertainty ー especially in the housing sector. That sent stocks lower. Conflicted comments from the president's economic adviser, and then the president himself, about China and trade extended the losses later in the day. The Dow finished down triple digits. The Nasdaq shed a percent, with Apple ($AAPL) leading the decline. "How you interpret today's report depends on whether you're working in the market or trading based on it," Dr. Andrew Chamberlain, the chief economist at Glassdoor told Cheddar Friday. Chamberlain was particularly encouraged by the continuing wage growth, saying it's starting to look like "real gains, not a statistical blip." He said Glassdoor's internal metrics show that wages are particularly strong in major cities like New York, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. Still, as [outlined](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-11-02/millennial-men-leave-perplexing-hole-in-a-hot-u-s-labor-market) in Bloomberg Friday, there is a perplexing hole in all the positive economic news. A big chunk of millennial men aged 24-34 are still sitting on the sidelines of the job market, as the manufacturing jobs they once flocked to become more high-tech and require more specific technical skills. "People who live outside big metro areas and don't have college degrees are really struggling to find their way in this labor market," Chamberlain said. But he remains confident this will change, even as automation picks up. As companies become more efficient, they will seek to expand, and thus require more human capital, he said. "They'll create jobs in unexpected places." So how much lower can the unemployment rate go? With 157 million Americans now among the ranks of the employed, the number can only rise so much. "There's just not that much water to wring out of this labor market anymore," Chamberlain said. For full interview [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/october-jobs-report-shows-250-000-new-jobs-3-7-unemployment-rate).

Share:
More In Business
Michigan Judge Sentences Walmart Shoplifters to Wash Parking Lot Cars
A Michigan judge is putting sponges in the hands of shoplifters and ordering them to wash cars in a Walmart parking lot when spring weather arrives. Genesee County Judge Jeffrey Clothier hopes the unusual form of community service discourages people from stealing from Walmart. The judge also wants to reward shoppers with free car washes. Clothier says he began ordering “Walmart wash” sentences this week for shoplifting at the store in Grand Blanc Township. He believes 75 to 100 people eventually will be ordered to wash cars this spring. Clothier says he will be washing cars alongside them when the time comes.
Load More