U.S. Adds Just 29,000 Jobs in September, Down From 133,000 in August

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, September 2026 Employment Situation.
August's figure was revised to +133,000; September's initial estimate was +29,000.

According to the latest report, U.S. job growth dropped sharply in September. The Bureau of Labour Statistics reports that businesses added only 29,000 jobs, while the unemployment rate stood at 4.2%.

This is a sharp decline from August, when 133,000 jobs were added. The latest figure is also lower than the average of 45,000 jobs per month over the past twelve months.

The estimates for August and July were revised downward, meaning the increase in jobs was 60,000 lower; this indicates that the labour market is not as strong as previously thought.

There might be various reasons behind the upcoming falling figures, taking into account the fact that companies are afraid to hire. Probably, the increasing costs and the uncertainty of demand for goods and services force employers to refrain from hiring.

Therefore, even after one unsuccessful month, one cannot characterise the economy as being in recession because employment can be very volatile and requires being analysed over a long period of time.

It is also necessary to differentiate employment data from unemployment information. Employment data comes from the establishment survey, and unemployment data are derived from the household survey.

The next few reports should give us a better idea of what's happening in the U.S. economy and whether this slowdown in hiring is likely to continue.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labour Statistics: Employment Situation, September 2026