Updated 1w+ ago · Business
US employers added 29,000 jobs in September, sharply missing forecasts.
The U.S. economy added 29,000 jobs in September, the Labor Department reported Friday. That is less than a third of the 90,000 economists had forecast.
- 29,000 September payrolls followed a revised 133,000 in August.
- 60,000 jobs were removed from combined July and August totals after revisions.
- July payrolls were revised from a gain to a loss of 10,000 jobs.
- 3% average hourly wage growth was the smallest year-over-year gain since May 2021.
Why it matters: The report lands one month before midterm elections that will determine control of Congress. Only 26% of U.S. adults approve of Trump's handling of the economy, an AP-NORC poll found — a new low.
- 17% of adults approve of Trump's handling of the cost of living, per the same poll.
- Glassdoor's employee confidence index hit its third record low of the year. Chief economist Daniel Zhao said workers are "increasingly anxious about everything from layoffs to AI."
How 47 sources split on this story
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Coverage by lean
47 sources · 56 articles · 38% Right coverage
Where they split: Outlets agree on the raw numbers but divide on whether the report reflects a broader economic failure or a resilient market hitting a soft patch.
Center coverage, 17 sources: The center presents the miss as a significant data point for the Fed and midterms, noting market resilience alongside the weak headline number without assigning political blame.
CNBC1w+Labor market faltered in September as jobs increased by just 29,000, unemployment rate rose to 4.2%PBS NewsHour1w+Disappointing 29,000 jobs added in September as unemployment ticks upReuters1w+VIEW Soft September jobs report sends markets higherArmy Times1w+Unemployment rate for post-9/11 vets up as job market slumpsAxios1w+U.S. adds 29,000 jobs in September, unemployment edges upCTV News1w+U.S. adds disappointing 29,000 jobs and unemployment ticks up to 4.2% in SeptemberDeadline1w+U.S. Job Growth Slowed To 29,000 In September, With Slight Dip In Movie And Music EmploymentFinancial Times1w+US economy adds just 29,000 jobs in September as hiring slows sharplyForbes1w+Labor Market Loses Momentum In September—29,000 Jobs Added—While July Turns NegativeIBTimes1w+U.S. Jobs Increased Well Below Expectations Last Month. Unemployment Rose.Newsweek1w+Underwhelming job report gives Trump midterm headwindNPR1w+The U.S. added only 29,000 jobs in September as job market lacks sparkSemafor1w+US adds 29,000 jobs in September, far short of expectationsStateline1w+Hiring slows in September with job growth of 29KThe Hill1w+US economy added 29,000 jobs in September: BLSThe National Desk1w+Final jobs report before midterms delivers disappointmentUSA Today1w+September jobs report shows 29k jobs added, unemployment at 4.2%
Left coverage, 12 sources: The left frames the report as evidence that Trump's economic policies are failing working Americans, highlighting record-low approval on cost-of-living and the shrinking options for job-seekers.
Los Angeles Times1w+U.S. adds disappointing 29,000 jobs and unemployment ticks up in SeptemberMSNBC1w+U.S. economy added disappointing 29,000 jobs in SeptemberThe Independent1w+Trump’s Labor Department releases disappointing jobs report ahead of midtermsAl Jazeera1w+US job growth slows as unemployment rises before midterm electionsCBS News1w+Employers across the U.S. added 29,000 jobs in September, short of forecastsDaily Kos1w+Trump boasts ‘phenomenal job’ as unemployment surgesHuffPost1w+Unemployment Ticks Up, U.S. Add Disappointing Number Of Jobs In SeptemberNBC News1w+Labor market slowed in September, final monthly jobs report before midterms showsPennsylvania Capital-Star1w+Hiring slows in September with job growth of 29KPolitical Wire1w+U.S. Hiring Slows with 29,000 Jobs Added in SeptemberRaw Story1w+‘Surprising’ jobs report falls ‘far short of expectations’: reportsThe Washington Post1w+U.S. economy added 29,000 jobs in September, as employers face growing uncertainty
Right coverage, 18 sources: The right frames the report as a political headwind for Trump after the White House had touted August's numbers, noting Democrats will use the miss on the campaign trail.
Washington Examiner1w+The details of September's jobs report are more encouragingThe Epoch Times1w+US Economy Adds Just 29,000 Jobs in September, Below Market EstimatesZeroHedge1w+Wall Street's Midterm Map Just Flipped - Here's What Goldman And JPMorgan SeeBreitbart News1w+America Added 29,000 Jobs in September, Unemployment Ticked Up to 4.2%Citizen Free Press1w+In addition to weak September jobs report, previous two months also revised lower.Daily Mail1w+Another blow to President Trump as the latest jobs report suggests the US economy is in freefall just one month before the midterm electionsHot Air1w+Midterm Miss: US Adds Only 29,000 Jobs in SeptemberJust the News1w+US economy added 29,000 jobs in September, monthly jobless rate increased to 4.2%: Labor DepartmentNew York Post1w+Job growth cools in September -- sorely missing forecasts as unemployment ticks upNewsmax1w+Job Growth Slows to 29,000, Unemployment Rises to 4.2%NTD1w+US Economy Adds Just 29,000 Jobs in September, Below Market EstimatesRedState1w+Manufacturing, Construction Add Jobs in New September ReportThe American Conservative1w+Economy Added 29,000 Jobs in September, Short of Projected 90,000The Center Square1w+U.S. economy adds 29K jobs, unemployment 4.2% in SeptemberThe Daily Caller1w+Job Numbers Come In Cooler Than Expected As Previous Gains Get Revised DownThe Washington Times1w+U.S. adds only 29,000 jobs in lackluster September reportThe Western Journal1w+Final Jobs Report Before Midterms Comes In Way Below ExpectationsTownhall1w+The September Jobs Report Is Here
What’s next: The Federal Reserve meets in October. Traders see the weak report as reducing the chance of a rate increase.
- November 3 midterms will determine whether Trump's Republicans keep full control of Congress.
- Whether the September weakness reflects a temporary soft patch or a more sustained slowdown remains unclear from the data.
- How the Federal Reserve will weigh persistent inflation above its 2% target against the softening job market at its October meeting.
- Whether the revoking of work authorizations for 350,000 Haitians, as Capital Economics economist Bradley Saunders suggested, materially slowed healthcare hiring.
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