The accelerated pickup in non-farm payrolls compared with the preceding month was on a broad footing. Although job cuts in the government sector had a negative impact for the first time again since June, the increased momentum in the private sector was helped by the construction sector and the recovery in industry. This development is in line with the ongoing recovery in the residential construction sector and the ISM signals pointing to a pickup in industrial production. All told, the ongoing solid upwards trend in the employment numbers does not confirm fears that the recent reticence on the business investment front will also spill over into recruitment behavior.