The September 2026 U.S. jobs report is out: employers added 29,000 nonfarm payroll jobs, and the unemployment rate was 4.2%. Payroll growth was well below the roughly 90,000 jobs economists were expected to anticipate, according to the Associated Press, and below the 45,000 average monthly gain over the previous 12 months reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
When the September jobs report was released
The BLS published the September Employment Situation on Friday, October 2, 2026, at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time. Its 2026 release schedule listed that date, and the September report is now available.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Principles of Economics | $270.79 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
Basic Economics: A Common Sense Guide to the Economy | $25.49 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
Economics For Dummies: Book + Chapter Quizzes Online | $17.49 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
Principles of Economics | $148.90 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
|
Understanding Economics, Student Edition (ECONOMICS PRINCIPLES & PRACTIC) | $50.47 | Buy on Amazon |
What the headline numbers say
Nonfarm payroll employment rose by 29,000 in September. That is an initial estimate, and it indicates subdued hiring: the BLS says payrolls had increased by an average of 45,000 per month over the preceding 12 months. Before the release, the Associated Press described economists’ expectation as around 90,000 jobs. That is an approximate benchmark, not a precise consensus poll documented in the article.
The unemployment rate increased from 4.1% in August to 4.2% in September. The BLS reported 7.1 million people unemployed. The rate has remained within a 4.1% to 4.3% range since March, so the one-tenth-point rise is modest rather than a sudden break in the trend.
Recommended Free Tools
#1 Best Overall
Why payrolls and unemployment are different measures
The two headline figures come from separate BLS surveys, so they do not count the same thing. The household survey estimates labor-force status, including whether people are employed or unemployed; the establishment survey estimates payroll employment, hours, and earnings by industry. A month can therefore show a change in payroll jobs alongside a different movement in the unemployment rate without the figures contradicting each other.
Other household-survey measures changed little: labor-force participation was 61.8%, and the employment-population ratio was 59.2%. The number of people working part time for economic reasons was 4.5 million.
Rank #2
What changed across industries
The BLS said payroll employment changed little across major industries. September gains and losses included:
- Health care added 17,000 jobs, less than its average monthly gain of 33,000 over the prior 12 months.
- Construction added 11,000 jobs, and manufacturing added 9,000.
- Federal, state, and local government employment fell by 17,000 combined.
- Professional and business services employment declined by 9,000.
These industry figures show that the overall small gain was not simply a uniform slowdown across every sector.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Rank #3
How revisions affect the recent picture
The BLS revised its earlier monthly payroll estimates downward. July’s change was revised from a gain of 21,000 to a loss of 10,000; August’s gain was revised from 162,000 to 133,000. Together, those revisions reduced the previously reported July and August changes by 60,000 jobs.
Monthly payroll figures are initial estimates and can change as the BLS receives more reports from businesses and government agencies and recalculates seasonal factors. The revised figures are the more current estimates for those months.
Rank #4
Pay and hours add context
Average hourly earnings for private-sector employees rose 0.1% in September and were up 3.0% over the 12 months through September, according to the BLS. The average private nonfarm workweek remained 34.4 hours.
Economist Luke Tilley of Wilmington Trust told the Associated Press: “In this data, there is no sign that the labor market is stoking inflation.” That is an interpretation of the report, not a conclusion the employment figures establish on their own.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesWhat the report does—and does not—establish
The combination of payroll growth below the pre-release expectation, downward revisions to July and August, and an unemployment rate that edged higher points to a softer labor market than the initial August estimate alone suggested. One monthly report, however, does not prove that the economy is in recession or determine what the Federal Reserve will do. The report is one input among many for assessing economic conditions and policy.
When the next jobs report is scheduled
The BLS calendar currently lists the October 2026 Employment Situation for Friday, November 6, 2026, at 8:30 a.m. ET. Release schedules can change; consult the BLS calendar for the latest listing.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
