The U.S. economy added 29,000 nonfarm payroll jobs in September, a figure that points to weaker hiring even as the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.2 percent.
The September increase was below the average monthly gain of 45,000 jobs over the prior 12 months, according to employment data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The figures also included substantial downward revisions to the previous two months, further weakening the recent payroll picture.
July payrolls were revised down by 31,000, changing a reported gain of 21,000 into a loss of 10,000. August payrolls were revised down by 29,000, from 162,000 to 133,000.
The data show slower payroll growth, modest wage increases and a labour market in which unemployment has remained within a limited range.
The unemployment rate has stayed between 4.1 percent and 4.3 percent since March. The number of unemployed people stood at 7.1 million in September, while the labour force participation rate was unchanged at 61.8 percent.
Hiring varied sharply across sectors. Health care led the major industries, adding 17,000 positions. Construction added 11,000 jobs and manufacturing gained 9,000.
Financial activities shed 7,000 jobs in September. The sector has lost 129,000 positions since a peak in May 2025. Manufacturing, by contrast, is up 72,000 since a recent low in December 2025.
Pay growth remained limited. Average hourly earnings for private nonfarm payroll employees rose 5 cents, or 0.1 percent, to $37.81 in September. Wages have increased 3.0 percent over the past 12 months.
Several measures pointed to continued strain for some workers despite the steady headline unemployment rate. About 4.5 million people were working part time for economic reasons in September.
The number of long-term unemployed, defined as people out of work for 27 weeks or more, held at 1.9 million. They accounted for 27.1 percent of all unemployed people. The unemployment rate for Black workers rose to 7.0 percent in September.
The report does not explain why employers reduced hiring in September, or whether the slowdown reflects temporary disruption or more lasting weakness. It also leaves open how long unemployment will remain at its current level and whether wage growth will accelerate or slow further.
For now, the data show a labour market with continued job gains in health care, construction and manufacturing, alongside a smaller overall increase in payrolls than the recent average. The central question is whether the September weakness marks a short-lived soft patch or a broader slowdown in hiring.
Comments (0)