September 2026 Employment Situation

Historical release narrative reproduced from the official public-domain source. Statistical tables, standard technical appendices, administrative material and attendance rosters are omitted; formatting is adapted for reading. Figures retain the release's historical context and may have been revised. Consult the linked source for the complete document.

Both nonfarm payroll employment (+29,000) and the unemployment rate (4.2 percent) changed little in September, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Employment in all major industries changed little over the month.

This news release presents statistics from two monthly surveys. The household survey measures labor force status, including unemployment, by demographic characteristics. The establishment survey measures nonfarm employment, hours, and earnings by industry. For more information about the concepts and statistical methodology used in these two surveys, see the Technical Note.

Household Survey Data

Both the unemployment rate, at 4.2 percent, and the number of unemployed people, at 7.1 million, changed little in September. The unemployment rate has remained in a narrow range of 4.1 percent to 4.3 percent since March. (See table A-1.)

Among the major worker groups, the unemployment rate for people who are Black (7.0 percent) increased in September. The jobless rates for adult men (3.9 percent), adult women (3.6 percent), teenagers (14.5 percent), and people who are White (3.6 percent), Asian (2.9 percent), or Hispanic (4.7 percent) showed little change over the month. (See tables A-1, A-2, and A-3.)

The number of long-term unemployed (those jobless for 27 weeks or more) was essentially unchanged at 1.9 million in September. The long-term unemployed accounted for 27.1 percent of all unemployed people. (See table A-12.)

Both the labor force participation rate, at 61.8 percent, and the employment-population ratio, at 59.2 percent, changed little in September. These measures showed little net change since January. (See table A-1.)

The number of people employed part time for economic reasons changed little at 4.5 million in September. These individuals would have preferred full-time employment but were working part time because their hours had been reduced or they were unable to find full-time jobs. (See table A-8.)

In September, the number of people not in the labor force who currently want a job changed little at 5.8 million. These individuals were not counted as unemployed because they were not actively looking for work during the 4 weeks preceding the survey or were unavailable to take a job. (See table A-1.)

Among those not in the labor force who wanted a job, the number of people marginally attached to the labor force decreased by 236,000 to 1.5 million in September. These individuals wanted and were available for work and had looked for a job sometime in the prior 12 months but had not looked for work in the 4 weeks preceding the survey. The number of discouraged workers, a subset of the marginally attached who believed that no jobs were available for them, changed little over the month at 414,000. (See Summary table A.)

Establishment Survey Data

Total nonfarm payroll employment changed little in September (+29,000), following an average monthly gain of 45,000 over the prior 12 months. Employment in all major industries changed little over the month. (See table B-1.)

Health care employment continued its upward trend in September (+17,000), but at a slower pace than the average monthly gain over the prior 12 months (+33,000). In September, employment continued to trend up in ambulatory health care services (+13,000) and in hospitals (+12,000), while nursing and residential care facilities lost jobs (-9,000).

Employment in construction changed little in September (+11,000). The industry had added an average of 10,000 jobs per month over the prior 12 months. In September, employment in nonresidential specialty trade contractors continued to trend up (+12,000).

Manufacturing employment was little changed in September (+9,000) but is up by 72,000 since a recent low in December 2025. Over the month, employment increased in plastics and rubber products manufacturing (+5,000) and in machinery manufacturing (+5,000).

In September, financial activities employment was little changed (-7,000). Employment in financial activities is down by 129,000 since a recent peak in May 2025, with most of the job loss in insurance carriers and related activities (-90,000).

Employment also showed little change over the month in other major industries, including mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction; wholesale trade; retail trade; transportation and warehousing; information; professional and business services; social assistance; leisure and hospitality; other services; and government.

In September, average hourly earnings for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls edged up by 5 cents, or 0.1 percent, to $37.81. Over the past 12 months, average hourly earnings have increased by 3.0 percent. In September, average hourly earnings of private-sector production and nonsupervisory employees rose by 7 cents, or 0.2 percent, to $32.60. (See tables B-3 and B-8.)

The average workweek for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls remained at 34.4 hours in September. In manufacturing, the average workweek was unchanged at 40.6 hours, and overtime held at 3.0 hours. The average workweek for production and nonsupervisory employees on private nonfarm payrolls remained at 33.8 hours. (See tables B-2 and B-7.)

The change in total nonfarm payroll employment for July was revised down by 31,000, from +21,000 to -10,000, and the change for August was revised down by 29,000, from +162,000 to +133,000. With these revisions, employment in July and August combined is 60,000 lower than previously reported. (Monthly revisions result from additional reports received from businesses and government agencies since the last published estimates and from the recalculation of seasonal factors.)

The Employment Situation for October 2026 is scheduled to be published on Friday, November 6, 2026, at 8:30 a.m. (ET).