Full Text of the U.S. September Nonfarm Payrolls Report: Nonfarm payrolls increased by only 29,000, unemployment rate held steady at 4.2%

Compiled by Golden-10 Data

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics released a report today stating that September nonfarm payroll employment (+29,000) and the unemployment rate (4.2%) showed little change. Employment levels across all major industries showed little change this month.

This news release presents statistical data from two monthly surveys. The household survey measures labor force status based on demographic characteristics, including unemployment. The establishment survey measures nonfarm payroll employment, hours worked, and earnings by industry. For more information on the concepts and statistical methodologies used in these surveys, please see the Technical Notes.

Household Survey Data

The unemployment rate was 4.2% in September, with an unemployment count of 7.1 million; both showed little change. Since March, the unemployment rate has remained within a narrow range of 4.1% to 4.3%.

Among major worker groups, the unemployment rate for Black adults rose to 7.0% in September. Unemployment rates for adult men (3.9%), adult women (3.6%), teenagers (14.5%), White adults (3.6%), Asian adults (2.9%), and Hispanic/Latino workers (4.7%) changed very little for the month.

The number of unemployed persons on long-term unemployment (those jobless for 27 weeks or more) remained largely unchanged at 1.9 million in September. Long-term unemployed persons accounted for 27.1 percent of total unemployed.

The labor force participation rate was 61.8% and the employment-population ratio was 59.2% in September, both showing little change. Both indicators have seen very little net change since January.

In September, 4.5 million persons were employed part time for economic reasons, a figure that showed little change. These individuals wanted full-time work but had reduced hours or could not find full-time jobs.

In September, 5.8 million persons not in the labor force who currently want a job showed little change. These persons are not counted as unemployed because they were not actively looking for work during the 4 reference period prior to the reference week, or because they were unable to accept a job.

Among persons not in the labor force who currently want a job, the marginally attached to the labor force decreased by 236,000 to 1.5 million in September. Marginally attached persons wanted and were available for work and had looked for a job sometime in the past 12 months, but had not searched for work during the 4 reference period prior to the reference week. Discouraged workers (a subset of the marginally attached who believe no jobs are available for them) changed little for the month at 414,000.

Establishment Survey Data

Total nonfarm payroll employment changed little (+29,000) in September, following an average monthly gain of 45,000 over the previous 12 months. Employment levels across all major industries showed little change this month.

Health care employment continued its growth trend in September (+17,000), though the pace was slower than the average monthly gain of 33,000 over the previous 12 months. In September, employment continued to rise in ambulatory health care services (+13,000) and hospitals (+12,000), while nursing and residential care facilities lost jobs (-9,000).

Construction employment changed little (+11,000) in September. On average, the sector added 10,000 jobs per month over the past 12 months. Nonresidential specialty trade contractors continued to show employment increases in September (+12,000).

Manufacturing employment changed little (+9,000) in September, but has increased by 72,000 since its recent low in December 2025. During the month, employment rose in plastic and rubber products manufacturing (+5,000) and machinery manufacturing (+5,000).

Financial activities employment changed little (-7,000) in September. Since its recent peak in May 2025, financial activities employment has decreased by 129,000, with most of the job losses occurring in insurance carriers and related activities (-90,000).

Job changes in other major industries were also negligible for the month, including mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction; wholesale trade; retail trade; transportation and warehousing; information; professional and business services; social assistance; leisure and hospitality; other services; and government.

Average hourly earnings for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls edged up by 5 cents to $37.81 in September, a 0.1-percent increase. Over the past 12 months, average hourly earnings have risen by 3.0 percent. In September, average hourly earnings for private-sector production and nonsupervisory employees increased by 7 cents to $32.60, a 0.2-percent rise.

Average weekly hours for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls held steady at 34.4 hours in September. Average weekly hours in manufacturing held steady at 40.6 hours, and overtime hours held steady at 3.0 hours. Average weekly hours for production and nonsupervisory employees on private nonfarm payrolls held steady at 33.8 hours.

July's change in total nonfarm payroll employment was revised down by 31,000, from +21,000 to -10,000; August's change was revised down by 29,000, from +162,000 to +133,000. With these revisions, combined July and August employment is now reported as 60,000 lower than previously reported. (Monthly revisions result from additional reports received from businesses and government agencies since the last publication of the estimates, and the recalculation of seasonal factors.)

The October 2026 Employment Situation report is scheduled to be released at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time (8:30 p.m. Beijing Time) on Friday, November 6, 2026.

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