Days before the midterms, the Labor Department released its October jobs report. Employers added 261,000 jobs, a sign of resilience in a slowing economy. Unemployment ticked up slightly to 3.7%.
For the White House, it was proof the economy remained strong despite inflation. For critics, it showed wage growth lagging prices. Workers earned more but bought less.
The timing mattered. Democrats seized on job growth as evidence their policies worked. Republicans pointed to inflation at 8% as proof they hadn’t. Voters looked past spin and saw reality at gas stations and grocery stores.
Jobs reports are snapshots, not full portraits. This one showed an economy still creating work but struggling to preserve value. Heading into the midterms, it was less reassurance than reminder: employment is not prosperity when paychecks don’t stretch.