The U.S. economy added 165,000 jobs in October, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Friday, far outpacing the roughly 59,000 to 65,000 economists surveyed by Dow Jones and other outlets had expected. The unemployment rate fell to 4.1% from 4.2%, according to CNN and NPR.

The report also included a notable upward revision: August and September job growth was revised up by a combined 84,000 positions, bringing the three-month average pace of hiring to 137,000 jobs a month, a steadier picture than the October headline number alone might suggest.

Where the jobs came from

Professional and business services led the way with 70,000 new jobs, followed by healthcare at roughly 42,000. Transportation and warehousing added 25,000 positions and factories added 19,000, while restaurants and construction companies both cut jobs over the month, according to figures reported by CP24/AP.

Average hourly wages rose 3.1% from a year earlier, a bigger annual increase than the previous month, though still likely not enough to meaningfully outpace the cost of living for many households. Notably, the unemployment rate fell even as 421,000 more people entered the labor force — typically a sign of rising confidence in job prospects, since it reflects people actively looking for work rather than giving up the search.

Indeed's Hiring Lab cautioned that despite the strong headline figures, much of the ongoing pain in the labor market is still being felt by workers who are already unemployed and trying to find a way back in. The next jobs report, covering November, will be closely watched for whether October's blowout numbers were a blip or the start of a real acceleration.