The US added 29,000 nonfarm payroll jobs in September, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported on October 2. The gain was below the 45,000 average monthly increase over the previous 12 months. The unemployment rate rose to 4.2% from 4.1% in August, and labor-force participation increased to 61.8% from 61.6%. Average hourly earnings rose 5 cents, or 0.1%, to $37.81; they were up 3.0% over 12 months. Revisions also weakened the recent picture: July payrolls were revised from a 21,000 gain to a 10,000 loss, and August gains were revised from 162,000 to 133,000. Together, July and August were revised down by 60,000. The report is a monthly estimate based on separate employer and household surveys, and later revisions remain possible.
Reader question: Does this mean the US is losing jobs? No. Payrolls still increased in September, but hiring was subdued and earlier gains were revised lower. The report alone does not establish a lasting trend.