WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that 119,000 jobs were added in September. The overall unemployment rate grew slightly to 4.4% in September from 4.3% in August. (Note: These figures were delayed from October due to the federal government shutdown.)
September’s jobs report more than doubled economists’ expectations. The job growth was driven almost entirely by private sector job gains (+97,000), including 43,000 new jobs in the healthcare sector and 19,000 new jobs in the construction sector.
The unemployment rate for women grew slightly to 4.2% from 3.8%. Overall labor force participation grew slightly to 62.4% in September from 62.3% in August.
Women’s labor force participation rose to 57.4% in September from 56.9% in August. Meanwhile, men’s labor force participation fell to 67.8% in August from 68% in August. Both rates for men and women are still below pre-pandemic levels.
Americans’ wages are up 3.8% over the year. Since President Trump took office, workers’ real wages are up $700 and are on track for a $1,000 increase after his first year—meaning Americans are on track to make up one-third of the $3,000 in wages lost under the Biden administration.
Carrie Sheffield, senior policy analyst at the Center for Economic Opportunity at Independent Women, issued the following statement:
“Establishment economists got it wrong (again). September’s jobs increase beat all 67 forecasts in Bloomberg’s survey.
“Americans are working. Average weekly hours for production workers increased, and long-term unemployment fell sharply—proof that a growing share of the American people see the opportunity in President Trump’s economic comeback.
“There is more good news to come, with the Atlanta Fed GDPNow model now projecting a blockbuster 4.2% GDP growth figure for the third quarter. That means more jobs and higher incomes for Americans.
“We look forward to the continued progress toward tax and regulatory reforms that will enable job and wage growth, thanks to the Working Families Tax Cut, as witnessed following passage of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.
“We look forward to seeing these efforts bear fruit and continue to improve job creation for American families in the months ahead.”
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