U.S. Job Growth Slows in September Ahead of Midterm Elections

U.S. job growth slowed in September, with 29,000 new jobs added as unemployment rose to 4.2%.

October 2, 2026 One Min Read

POLICY WIRE — Washington, D.C. — The U.S. labor market experienced a slowdown in September, according to the latest data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics released on Friday.

The economy added just 29,000 jobs, falling short of economists’ expectations. The unemployment rate climbed to 4.2%, while average hourly earnings saw only a 0.1% increase from the previous month and a 3% rise compared to a year ago.

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Revisions to earlier months’ job figures also impacted the report, with July’s job gains revised down by 31,000 and August’s by 29,000. Economists had anticipated 84,000 new jobs, an unchanged unemployment rate at 4.1%, and a 3.1% annual increase in wages, according to a Dow Jones survey.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)

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