September Jobs Report: U.S. Adds 29,000 Jobs

In September 2026, the U.S. economy added 29,000 nonfarm payroll jobs, reflecting a sharp slowdown in hiring compared to August.

Revisions to prior months were negative overall. July’s total was revised down to -10,000, while August was revised down to +133,000, bringing combined employment 60,000 lower than previously reported.

The unemployment rate edged up to 4.2%, with 7.1 million Americans unemployed, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Is the U.S. Job Market Growing?

September’s jobs report points to a labor market that is still adding jobs, but at a much slower pace.

Employment changed little across all major industries. Healthcare continued to trend upward, while construction and manufacturing posted modest gains. Financial activities continued to face headwinds after a longer-term decline in employment.

With payroll growth slowing, prior months revised downward, and wage growth moderating, the latest data suggests employers remain cautious about expanding their workforces. At the same time, labor force participation edged higher and unemployment remained within its recent range.

U.S. Unemployment Rates by Group for September 2026

• Adult women: 3.6%
• Adult men: 3.9%
• Teenagers: 14.5%
• Whites: 3.6%
• Blacks: 7.0%
• Asians: 2.9%
• Hispanics: 4.7%

Unemployment rates across most demographic groups showed little change in September. The unemployment rate for Black workers increased to 7.0%, while rates for other major groups remained relatively stable.

Key Employment Statistics for September 2026

• Long-term unemployed (27 weeks or more): 1.9 million, representing 27.1% of all unemployed, essentially unchanged over the month.
• Average hourly earnings: Rose by 5 cents to $37.81, up 3.0% over the past year. Production and nonsupervisory employees earned $32.60, up 7 cents.
• Average workweek: Held steady at 34.4 hours. Manufacturing hours remained at 40.6 hours, while production and nonsupervisory employees remained at 33.8 hours.
• Labor force participation rate: 61.8%
• Employment-population ratio: 59.2%

The number of workers employed part time for economic reasons changed little at 4.5 million, indicating underemployment remained relatively stable during the month.

Sectors with Notable Job Trends in September

Healthcare

Healthcare added 17,000 jobs in September, continuing its upward trend but at a slower pace than its average monthly growth over the prior year.

Ambulatory health care services added 13,000 jobs, while hospitals added 12,000. These gains were partially offset by a decline of 9,000 jobs in nursing and residential care facilities.

Construction

Construction added 11,000 jobs in September, representing little overall change for the month and roughly matching its average monthly growth over the prior year.

Nonresidential specialty trade contractors continued to trend upward, adding 12,000 jobs.

Manufacturing

Manufacturing added 9,000 jobs in September and has gained 72,000 jobs since reaching a recent low in December 2025.

Employment increased in plastics and rubber products manufacturing (+5,000) and machinery manufacturing (+5,000), continuing the sector’s gradual improvement.

Financial Activities

Financial activities lost 7,000 jobs in September and have declined by 129,000 since reaching a recent peak in May 2025.

Most of the longer-term decline has occurred among insurance carriers and related activities, where employment is down by 90,000 over that period.

September Jobs Report Summary

The September 2026 jobs report showed a significant slowdown in hiring, with payroll employment increasing by just 29,000 jobs.

Healthcare continued to trend upward, while construction and manufacturing posted modest gains. Employment across other major industries showed little change.

The unemployment rate edged up to 4.2%, wage growth moderated to 3.0% year over year, and average hours worked remained unchanged.

Overall, the labor market continues to expand at a subdued pace, with weaker payroll growth and downward revisions to previous months pointing to softer hiring conditions. However, unemployment remains relatively stable, and labor force participation improved slightly in September.

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