Job growth slowdown continues in September

The United States added 194,000 jobs in September, on a seasonally adjusted basis, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and the unemployment rate fell to 4.8 percent. In addition, the total employment in July and August was revised upward to 1.09 million and 366,000 jobs, respectively.

By employment category, the biggest gains were in leisure and hospitality, which gained 74,000 jobs; professional and business services, which gained 60,000 jobs; and retail trade, which gained 56,000 jobs. In addition, gains were recorded in transportation and warehousing (47,000 jobs), information (32,000 jobs), social assistance (30,000 jobs), manufacturing (26,000 jobs) and construction (22,000 jobs).

Employment fell by 144,000 jobs in local government education and 17,000 in state government education. The recorded declines may reflect problems with the seasonal adjustment, noted the Bureau of Labor Statistics: “Most back-to-school hiring typically occurs in September. Hir