September adds 156,000 jobs as unemployment rate sees little change

Total nonfarm employment increased by 156,000 in September, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. In addition, the U.S. unemployment rate was little changed at 5.0 percent from 4.9 percent in August.

Economist Betsey Stevenson noted on Twitter, “While the unemployment rate has stayed steady, job growth has been rapid with workers coming in off the sidelines.”

The gains in employment occurred mostly in professional and business services and in healthcare. Professional and business services employment rates rose by 67,000 jobs in September and have risen by 582,000 jobs in the past 12 months. Retail trade employment continued to increase over the month, adding 22,000 jobs. Within the retail trade industry, job gains occurred in clothing and clothing accessories stores, which saw the addition of 14,000 job