The Conference Board’s employment trends index rose in November to a reading of 115.21, rebounding from October’s reading, which was revised down to 113.64. The November reading, a new five-year high, is up 5.3 percent from the same month a year ago.

“Largely a reflection of the 16-day government shutdown, October's apparent decline in the Employment Trends Index was more than reversed by the large November increase,” said Gad Levanon, director of macroeconomic research at The Conference Board. “Despite disappointing consumer-demand growth in recent quarters, the ETI is still signaling solid employment growth in the months ahead.”