The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) posted its long-awaited jobs report, and the results offer some telling economic indicators for the promo industry. The U.S. lost 105,000 jobs in October but gained 64,000 jobs in November. Unemployment last month rose to 4.6% – the highest level it’s been in four years, and up from 4.4% in September. The report, like other economic releases from the Department of Labor (DOL), was delayed due to the government shutdown earlier this fall, which lasted from October 1 to November 12.

A quick disclaimer: Since BLS did not obtain October household survey data during the shutdown, the agency reported that November figures had a “slightly higher” number of errors due to lower-than-usual response rates. Still, economists believe the data aligns with existing economic trends.

“We are careful in putting significant weight on November’s number, but the upward trend jibes with other data such as continuing jobless claims, the Conference Board’s labor differential and the quit rate, that all point to the jobs market continuing to weaken,” Wells Fargo economists wrote to investors on Tuesday, as reported by CNN.

4.6%
The U.S. unemployment rate in November – the highest rate in the country in four years(Bureau of Labor Statistics)

Here are a few takeaways for promo from the BLS November jobs report, showcasing opportunities to target fast-growing sectors and places where job losses could potentially impact promo operations.

Labor at a Crossroads

The data doesn’t look great for the workforce overall, and especially for those in search of new jobs or career changes. If you’ve been following the economic headlines (or looking for a job, for that matter), this shouldn’t come as much of a shock. After all, 2025 has been a whirlwind year for companies and jobseekers alike as they navigated a sea of dizzying tariffs and the rise of AI-driven work. Moreover, many companies have had to downsize to remain profitable.

Job cuts from January to November 2025 surpassed 1.1 million; that’s 54% higher than the same period last year and the highest level since 2020, according to a report from consulting firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas. The Federal Reserve has minimally lowered interest rates three times since September, with the current rate set at a range of 3.5% to 3.75%, but these cuts have been highly contentious, with the last four votes lacking unanimous committee support.

Fed Chair Jerome Powell, who must constantly strike a balance between controlling inflation and supporting the labor market, noted during the most recent rate cut that his priority is job growth.

“We are trying to keep inflation under control, but also support the labor market and strong wages, so that people are earning enough money and feeling economically healthy again,” he said during a press conference earlier this month, suggesting unemployment is a problem that needs to be monitored.

Growing investments in AI have led many companies to restructure their teams, using the technology to replace certain roles. The situation has become so complex that lawmakers announced a bill that would require publicly traded companies, some private companies and federal agencies to disclose AI-related job losses and hiring changes to the DOL.

Within the next five years, half of employers plan to change their business because of AI, two-thirds plan to hire talent with AI-specific skills, and 40% anticipate reducing their workforce in favor of AI automation, according to the World Economic Forum.

Job Losses in Transportation & Logistics Place Added Stress on Supply Chain

Several industries have taken a hit in the most recent jobs report. Transportation and warehousing lost 18,000 jobs in November, and employment in the sector has declined by 787,000 jobs since February. The transportation and warehousing labor force has been on the decline for most of the year, with job losses concentrated on warehousing, storage and couriers.

That’s adding stress to a supply chain already dealing with other issues. Existing U.S. Postal Service delays are hitting communities across the country, and some cargo planes for the major shippers have been grounded following a deadly crash on November 4.

Given that the promo industry relies heavily on shipping and logistics to ensure products, labels and other deliverables make it into the hands of end-buyers and end-users, it’s a situation that bears monitoring. 

More Jobs in Healthcare & Construction Represent Opportunities for Promo

While indicators paint a rather devastating picture of the labor market at large, a deeper dive into the numbers shows some industries are growing faster than others. Healthcare is the clear industry winner of the November jobs report, with BLS reporting an increase of over 46,300 jobs last month. Ambulatory health services accounted for 24,000 of those new jobs, with nursing-and-residential care facilities and hospitals each adding 11,000 jobs.

These numbers align with previous healthcare job growth trends; the industry sees an average monthly job gain of 39,000. Even though hospitals and health systems dealt with funding cuts and budget restraints this year, it’s a reminder that employee recognition and onboarding are well suited for companies in an industry that continues to grow its workforce.

The construction industry added 28,000 jobs in November, signaling potential demands for protective gear, high-visibility shirts and workwear.

These growing sectors were already among the top industries for promo product sales last year, according to ASI’s 2025 State of the Industry report. Healthcare and construction were the second and third markets for promo, respectively, following closely behind education at 13% of market share.

Distributors across the industry are already seeing workforce growth in these sectors impact their bottom line.

“We have seen an increase in purchasing employee-appreciation gifts, clients increasing or implementing employee-recognition programs, onboarding kits and tradeshow giveaways in multiple industries,” says Ann Vidro, co-owner and chief financial officer at Grand Rapids, MI-based distributor Creative Studio Promotions (asi/170976). “We believe this is a direct result of increased business for manufacturing domestically, construction and healthcare.”

The social assistance industry, comprising organizations that provide essential services to populations in need, grew by 18,000 jobs. More than half of these roles fell under the individual-and-family services umbrella, which includes mental health services, community-based support groups, financial assistance and services that address critical issues like addiction, housing insecurity and domestic violence. Many of these organizations and the communities they serve require basic products like art supplies, notebooks and pens – which is where promo comes in.

Given all these hiring trends, Vidro remains optimistic about the future of promo. “We are,” she says, “excited about 2026 and overall spending on promotional products.”