Boeing strike, Helene depress payrolls in Washington state, Florida

FILE PHOTO: Debris from Hurricane Helene is seen on the roadside as residents evacuate before the arrival of Hurricane Milton, in St. Pete Beach, Florida

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Employment decreased in Washington State and Florida in October, suggesting that a strike by factory workers at Boeing and Hurricane Helene accounted for part of the abrupt slowdown in U.S. job growth last month.

The Labor Department’s state employment and unemployment report on Tuesday showed nonfarm payroll employment decreased by 38,000 jobs in Florida last month and declined by 35,900 jobs in Washington State. Helene hit Florida’s Big Bend region as a powerful Category 4 hurricane in late September, before cutting a destructive path through the South region.

Boeing factory workers on the West Coast went on a seven-week strike, before accepting a new contract early this month.

Overall nonfarm payrolls increased by a paltry 12,000 jobs in October, the fewest since December 2020. With the strike over and rebuilding in the areas devastated by Helene underway, a rebound in job growth is expected in November.

(Reporting by Lucia Mutikani; Editing by Andrea Ricci)