U.S. hiring slowed in September, with employers adding 29,000 jobs while the unemployment rate held at 4.2%, according to the latest Employment Situation report released Oct. 2 by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. BLS said both nonfarm payroll employment and the unemployment rate changed little during the month, while employment across major industries also showed little movement. The unemployment rate has remained between 4.1% and 4.3% since March.
The number of unemployed people stood at about 7.1 million in September. Among major demographic groups, the unemployment rate for Black workers increased to 7%, while rates for adult men, adult women, teenagers, White workers, Asian workers and Hispanic workers showed little change over the month.
The September numbers also came with downward revisions to employment gains reported earlier in the summer. July payroll employment was revised from a gain of 21,000 jobs to a loss of 10,000, while August was revised from an increase of 162,000 jobs to 133,000. Combined, those revisions mean employment growth in July and August was 60,000 jobs lower than previously reported. Over the previous 12 months, payroll employment had increased by an average of 45,000 jobs per month, according to BLS. Septembers gain of 29,000 fell below that pace. Health care remained one of the areas showing some growth. Employment in the sector continued to trend upward by 17,000 jobs in September, although that was slower than its average monthly gain of 33,000 during the previous year. Ambulatory health care services and hospitals were among the areas showing continued growth.
Wages also continued to rise, but modestly. Average hourly earnings for employees on private nonfarm payrolls increased by 5 cents, or 0.1%, to $37.81 in September. Average hourly earnings were up 3% compared with a year earlier, while the average private-sector workweek remained unchanged at 34.4 hours. The latest jobs data comes as workers and employers continue to navigate a labor market with fewer signs of rapid expansion than in previous years. For people already considering a job change, slower hiring can make preparation more important. A job search that once moved quickly may take longer when employers are adding fewer positions or becoming more selective about filling vacancies.
That does not mean workers should assume layoffs are coming. The September report showed little change in employment across most major industries rather than a broad collapse in payrolls. It does, however, offer a reason to make sure basic career materials and financial plans are current. Workers may want to update résumés while recent accomplishments are still easy to document, particularly measurable results such as revenue generated, money saved, projects completed, audiences grown or teams supervised. Professional profiles should also reflect current skills and responsibilities. A LinkedIn page or résumé that has not been updated since a previous role may not accurately show what someone can offer a potential employer today.
Maintaining professional relationships can matter as well. Staying connected with former colleagues, supervisors and industry contacts before a job search begins can make those relationships more useful if circumstances change. Workers should also understand what would happen financially if their employment ended, including how health insurance, retirement accounts, unused paid leave and other workplace benefits would be handled.
For employees thinking about voluntarily leaving a job, the latest numbers are also a reminder not to assume another position will appear immediately. The September report does not predict what will happen to any individual worker or industry, and hiring conditions vary considerably by occupation, region and experience level. What the national numbers do show is slower job growth heading into the final quarter of the year.
BLS is scheduled to release the October Employment Situation report on Nov. 6 at 8:30 a.m. ET. Full report: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Situation September 2026