Hiring was unexpectedly strong in October, when employers added workers at a vigorous pace. Employers added 165,000 jobs last month, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Friday, and the unemployment rate dropped to 4.1%. Job gains for August and September were revised upward by a total of 84,000 positions. Average hourly earnings rose 3.1 percent compared with the same time last year. The report reaffirmed the general picture of the labor market as healthy. Employers have broadly continued to hire despite President Trump’s volatile tariff policy, the war in Iran that has cranked up energy price and uncertainty over artificial intelligence. Businesses have held onto their workers, keeping layoffs at historically low levels. And employees have been reluctant to leave their jobs. Short-term strength, long-term stability: Employers have been adding workers at a slow but steady pace for months. The unemployment rate has stayed low, hovering in a narrow range for the last two years. The robust October report underscored the labor market’s resilience but did not change this overall picture. A.I. jitters: One big question hanging over the labor market is the impact of artificial intelligence. So far, the technology does not appear to be leading to widespread job losses. Could this October jobs report improve U.S. household finances? Yes, stronger hiring and falling unemployment suggest more job security and wage growth for American workers.