The US labour market added 29,000 jobs in September, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). In its monthly Employment Situation report, released on Friday 2 October 2026, the agency said that both nonfarm payroll employment (+29,000) and the unemployment rate (4.2 per cent) “changed little” over the month.
What the Data Show
The BLS said employment in all major industries changed little over the month. The release is the agency’s report for September 2026 and was issued at 8:30am Eastern Time on 2 October.
Revisions to Earlier Months
The BLS also revised its estimates for the two preceding months. According to the release, the change in total nonfarm payroll employment for July was revised down by 31,000, from a gain of 21,000 to a fall of 10,000. The change for August was revised down by 29,000, from a gain of 162,000 to a gain of 133,000.
Why It Matters
The revisions mean July and August were weaker than first reported, and September’s gain is small by comparison with the revised August figure. The agency’s own description, that payrolls and the unemployment rate changed little, points to a labour market that moved sideways in September rather than shifting sharply in either direction. A single monthly release cannot show whether that continues.
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