Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by a surprisingly-high 336,000 in September, but most other economic indicators – such as the unemployment rate – showed little change from August, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported Friday.
September’s seasonally-adjusted 3.8% unemployment was unchanged from the previous month, as the number of unemployed persons remained at 6.4 million.
Other key economic numbers showing little or no change include:
- Unemployment rates for:
- Adult men (3.8%).
- Adult women (3.1%).
- Teenagers (11.6%).
- Whites (3.4%).
- Blacks (5.7%).
- Asians (2.8%).
- Hispanics (4.6%).
- The number of long-term unemployed (1.2 million).
- The labor force participation rate (62.8%).
- The number of persons employed part time for economic reasons (4.1 million).
- The number of persons not in the labor force who currently want a job (5.5 million).
- The number of persons not in the labor force who wanted a job (1.5 million).
- The number of discouraged workers (367,000).
The 336,000 nonfarm payroll jobs added in September nearly doubled the 170,000 gain predicted by analysts.
The increase in total nonfarm payroll employment in September was fueled by job gains in leisure/hospitality and government – both of which far exceeded their average monthly growth over the past year:
- Leisure and hospitality added 96,000 jobs in September, above the average monthly gain
- of 61,000 over the prior 12 months.
- Government employment increased by 73,000, 55% above the average monthly gain of 47,000 over the prior 12 months.
- State government education (+29,000).
- Local government, excluding education (+27,000).
- Employment in food services and drinking places (+61,000).
- Health care added 41,000 jobs.
- Accommodation employment continued to trend up over the month (+16,000).
In September, average hourly earnings for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls rose by seven cents, or 0.2%, to $33.88. Over the past 12 months, average hourly earnings have increased by 4.2%.
For private-sector production and nonsupervisory employees, average hourly earnings rose by six cents, or 0.2%, to $29.06. The average workweek for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls was unchanged at 34.4 hours in September.
The business and economic reporting of CNSNews.com is funded in part with a gift made in memory of Dr. Keith C. Wold.
