White House Economist: We Will Never Know October Unemployment Rate

Director of the National Economic Council Kevin Hassett speaks to reporters outside of the White House on Nov. 13, 2025. Anna Moneymaker/Getty ImagesA White House economic adviser confirmed Thursday that federal officials won’t be able to determine what the unemployment rate was for last month due to the government shutdown that ended on Wednesday.“The October employment report for the payroll side will be able to be calculated, but the household survey wasn’t completed,” National Economic Council head Kevin Hassett told reporters outside the White House.