Archival photograph of the Bureau of Labor Statistics entrance at the Postal Square Building, Washington, D.C., May 19, 2017. Photo: Ray Flores / U.S. Department of Labor, via DVIDS. Public domain in the United States. GlobeBriefly made mild brightness and contrast adjustments and WebP compression; no generative editing. This archive image does not depict the October 2026 release. No government endorsement is implied.
U.S. nonfarm payrolls increased by 29,000 in September 2026, while the unemployment rate was 4.2%, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported on October 2. BLS described both measures as little changed. The September Employment Situation release also revised July and August payroll growth down by a combined 60,000.
The new payroll estimate is smaller than August’s revised increase of 133,000. Average hourly earnings rose 0.1% over the month and 3.0% over the year, while the average workweek remained at 34.4 hours. Together, the figures show modest hiring and pay growth, with no broad shift across major industries identified by BLS.
Updated October 2, 2026, at 12:41 UTC (8:41 a.m. EDT): This article was originally published on October 1 as a preview. It now includes September’s results and the revised July and August payroll estimates released by BLS at 8:30 a.m. EDT (12:30 UTC).
September jobs report: the key figures
- Nonfarm payrolls: up 29,000 in September, following a revised increase of 133,000 in August.
- Unemployment: 4.2%, compared with 4.1% in August. BLS characterized the change as small.
- Labor force participation: 61.8%, compared with 61.6% in August.
- Average hourly earnings: $37.81 for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls, up 5 cents, or 0.1%, over the month and 3.0% over the year.
- Average weekly hours: 34.4 for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls, unchanged from August.
These monthly comparisons use seasonally adjusted figures. The October 2 release measures conditions in September; it is not an October employment estimate.
Why the July and August revisions matter
BLS revised July’s payroll change from a gain of 21,000 to a loss of 10,000. It revised August’s increase from 162,000 to 133,000. That reduces the combined change for those two months by 60,000 compared with the previous estimates.
The revisions change the recent history; they are not September job losses. Using the latest estimates, payrolls grew by about 51,000 a month on average from July through September. The calculation uses July’s loss of 10,000, August’s gain of 133,000 and September’s gain of 29,000.
BLS routinely revises initial payroll estimates in the next two monthly releases as more survey reports arrive and seasonal factors are recalculated. The latest Table B-1 payroll figures should therefore be used for current comparisons.
What unemployment and participation show
The unemployment rate was 4.2%, numerically 0.1 percentage point above August. BLS said it had remained within a range of 4.1% to 4.3% since March. The participation rate was 61.8%, and the employment-population ratio was 59.2%; the agency described both as little changed in September.
These measures answer different questions. Participation tracks the share of the civilian noninstitutional population aged 16 and over that is working or unemployed. The employment-population ratio tracks the share that is employed. They help put the unemployment rate in context. See the household survey figures in Table A-1.
Pay and hours add another piece of context
Average hourly earnings for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls edged up to $37.81. The 0.1% monthly increase is measured against August’s revised $37.76 figure. The annual increase was 3.0%, according to BLS and its Table B-3 earnings figures.
Average earnings describe an aggregate across workers, not the pay rise received by every employee. Changes in the mix of jobs can affect that average. The Table B-2 workweek figures show average hours holding at 34.4, another reason to read pay, hours and employment together.
How to read a small monthly payroll change
BLS reported little change in employment across all major industries. That wording matters: the survey estimates are subject to sampling and other errors, and the first payroll estimate can be revised.
The payroll survey counts jobs, while the household survey counts people. Someone holding two payroll jobs can appear twice in the employer count. The surveys therefore need not produce matching monthly movements.
September’s report shows a smaller payroll increase than August’s revised figure and a weaker July-August history than previously reported. It does not, by itself, establish why hiring changed or what the Federal Reserve will do next. The revised trend and subsequent releases will provide more context than the headline alone.
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