02/10/26
US adds 29,000 jobs in Sept, revisions lower
US adds 29,000 jobs in Sept, revisions lower
Houston, 2 October (Argus) — The US added a fewer-than-expected 29,000 jobs in
September while payroll gains for the prior two months were revised lower,
including a net loss in July, underscoring weak hiring. The lower hiring rate
last month followed a revised 133,000 jobs added in August, fewer than the
162,000 initially reported, while July's figures were revised to a loss of
10,000 jobs compared with initially reported gains of 21,000, for combined
downward revisions of 60,000, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported. Hiring
last month was down from the 90,000 median expected by economists surveyed by
Trading Economics. Average monthly job gains over the prior 12 months were just
45,000, in an economy that economists say has seen little hiring and few layoffs
amid a shrinking labor force driven by retirements and immigration crackdowns.
Following the report, the CME FedWatch tool showed just an 18pc chance of a rate
hike at the Federal Reserve's next policy meeting later this month, down from
64pc a week earlier. The yields on 10-year Treasury notes fell by three basis
points to 5.2pc after the report, having tipped near 5.3pc earlier this week, a
two-decade high, on inflation and debt concerns. Healthcare added 17,000
positions in September, construction gained 11,000 and manufacturing added
9,000, while financial activities shed 7,000 jobs. Manufacturing employment was
up by 72,000 from a recent low in December last year. Government shed 17,000
jobs. Transport and warehousing added 7,600 jobs, while retail trade added
6,000. Information shed 10,000 jobs. The unemployment rate edged up to 4.2pc in
September from 4.1pc the prior month. Average hourly earnings rose by an annual
3pc, slowing from 3.1pc growth the prior month. The labor force participation
rate, which reflects those working and actively seeking work, rose to 61.8pc
from 61.6pc the prior month and 61.4pc in July, the lowest since the Covid-19
pandemic in 2020. By Bob Willis Send comments and request more information at
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