The US economy added 336,000 jobs in September, holding the unemployment rate steady at 3.8%, according to a report by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Secretary of Labor Julie A. Su highlighted the positive news, stating, "Today, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the American economy added 336,000 jobs in September, while the unemployment rate remained steady at 3.8 percent, continuing the longest stretch under 4 percent unemployment since the 1960s."
Acting Secretary of Labor, Julie A. Su, emphasized the resilience of the American job market, noting that 13.9 million jobs have been added since President Biden took office. She praised the recovery in the hospitality sector, with restaurants and bars adding 61,000 jobs, effectively erasing pandemic-induced job losses.
The manufacturing sector also saw growth, with 17,000 jobs added in September and a total of 815,000 manufacturing jobs integrated into the economy since January 2021.
Another significant highlight from the report is the prime age women's employment rate, which remains at a record high of 75.3% for six consecutive months. Secretary Su acknowledged the contribution of women to the post-pandemic recovery and stressed the need to address structural barriers that keep some women out of the workforce, particularly emphasizing the need for affordable childcare.
The job gains in September were spread across various sectors, including leisure and hospitality, government, healthcare, professional, scientific, and technical services, and social assistance.
While the labor force participation rate and the employment-population ratio remained stable, concerns remain about the number of individuals working part-time due to economic reasons, which currently stands at 4.1 million.
Average hourly earnings for employees on private nonfarm payrolls increased slightly, marking a 4.2% increase over the past year.
Secretary Su concluded the report on an optimistic note, stating, "This month's jobs report was more good news for workers showing job and wage increases as well as broad growth across industries. This is a strong and stable jobs report showing a robust labor market that continues to provide employment opportunities for workers all over the country."