‘We’re All Just In A Mess’: Jobs Growth To Slow Sharply Amid Pandemic Hit

Empty patio tables are seen at a diner in West Hollywood, Calif. on Nov. 30, 2020, after Los Angeles County banned outdoor dining amid the pandemic. The struggles being experienced by restaurants and retailers are expected to have led to sharply slower job growth last month.

Robyn Beck / AFP via Getty Images

Get ready for one of the most unpredictable monthly jobs reports in a while.

The pandemic has come roaring back, filling hospitals with coronavirus patients, while restaurants and retail shops empty out.

That is expected to put a squeeze on job gains: Forecasters expect a report from the Labor Department Friday will show that U.S. employers added fewer workers in November than the 638,000 created the month before.