The US added just 29,000 jobs in September, missing expectations, as the unemployment rate ticked up to 4.2%, according to Labor Department data released Friday.
September’s miss points to a labor market that’s continuing to lose steam amid a long period of “low hire, low fire” dynamics. Average hourly earnings rose an anemic 0.1% from August and are up 3% year over year, a level that’s likely below the current rate of inflation.
In addition, job gains in July and August were revised lower by a total of 60,000.
Economists surveyed by Bloomberg expected the latest data to show a gain of 90,000 jobs in September and expected the unemployment rate to remain at 4.1% for a third straight month.
The report looked “all around weak — but not tragic,” economist Justin Wolfers wrote on X.
DUN DUN DUN — Fox Business on the September jobs report: "The numbers do not look good. I'm looking at 29,000 jobs added. That is well below expectations for 90,000, and our unemployment rate jumps up to 4.2%. A significant slowdown." pic.twitter.com/WSbXsKZ1ud
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) October 2, 2026
CNBC on the September jobs report: "A bit of a disappointment. Expecting 90,000, comes in at 29,000. And we see two month revisions down 60,000 … average hourly earnings — this is a big miss. Big, big miss. We were expecting up three tenth. This comes in at one tenth." pic.twitter.com/F4Op8pY7NC
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) October 2, 2026
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