US adds 29,000 jobs in September as unemployment reaches 4.2%
US payrolls increased by 29,000 in September 2026 and unemployment stood at 4.2%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics release on 2 October.
In short
- US payrolls increased by 29,000 in September 2026 and unemployment stood at 4.2%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics release on 2 October.
US employers added 29,000 nonfarm payroll jobs in September 2026, while the unemployment rate stood at 4.2%, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported on 2 October.
The agency described both measures as little changed over the month. The Guardian reported that unemployment had edged up and that payroll growth was substantially below August’s revised gain of 133,000.
Revisions reduced the combined July and August payroll estimates by 60,000, according to the Guardian. July’s revised figure showed a loss of 10,000 jobs, underscoring why the initial monthly estimates need to be read alongside later updates.
The Guardian reported that healthcare added 17,000 jobs in September, while information, finance and professional industries recorded losses. The BLS release characterised employment changes across the major industries as small overall.
The figures describe labour-market conditions in September; 2 October is the release date. Payroll employment and unemployment come from separate surveys, measuring jobs at establishments and the employment status of people in households respectively.
