Washington, D.C. – The U.S. economy added 254,000 jobs in September, significantly exceeding economists’ expectations of 150,000 new positions, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) report released Friday. The unemployment rate held steady at 4.1%, marking continued resilience in the labor market despite elevated interest rates and ongoing economic uncertainty.
The latest payroll figures represent a strong rebound from August’s revised total of 159,000 jobs (revised upward from an initial estimate of 142,000). Job gains were widespread across multiple sectors, with healthcare adding 45,000 positions, leisure and hospitality contributing 78,000 jobs, and professional services growing by 34,000 positions. Manufacturing and construction sectors also showed modest gains, adding 18,000 and 25,000 jobs respectively.
“These numbers demonstrate remarkable strength in the U.S. labor market,” said Dr. Jennifer Hammond, Chief Economist at the Peterson Institute for International Economics. “The combination of robust job creation and stable unemployment suggests the economy is achieving a rare soft landing—cooling inflation without triggering recession.”
Average hourly earnings rose 0.4% month-over-month and 4.0% year-over-year, indicating continued wage pressure that could influence Federal Reserve policy decisions. The labor force participation rate remained unchanged at 62.7%, while the broader U-6 unemployment measure, which includes discouraged workers and those employed part-time for economic reasons, decreased to 7.7% from 7.9% in August.
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen praised the report during a press briefing. “This employment data confirms that the Biden administration’s economic policies are delivering results for working Americans. We’re seeing strong job creation coupled with wage growth that’s helping families keep pace with costs.”
However, some economists urged caution about interpreting a single month’s data. “While September’s numbers are encouraging, we need to see sustained trends over multiple months,” noted Mark Chen, Senior Labor Market Analyst at the Economic Policy Institute. “Federal Reserve officials will be closely monitoring whether this strength continues or represents a temporary surge.”
Financial markets reacted with mixed sentiment to the jobs report. Stock futures initially declined as investors recalibrated expectations for Federal Reserve interest rate policy, with stronger employment data potentially reducing the urgency for rate cuts. Treasury yields rose modestly, reflecting expectations that the Fed may maintain higher rates for longer.
The report also highlighted ongoing structural changes in the labor market. Remote work arrangements continue to reshape employment patterns, with professional services and information technology sectors showing particular strength. Meanwhile, traditional retail employment remains below pre-pandemic levels as e-commerce continues to transform the industry.
Source: Aggregated by MetaNews USA — original reporting credited to Reuters, The New York Times, and The Wall Street Journal, with data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and expert commentary from leading economic analysts.
