U.S. Adds 119K Jobs in September, Surpassing Estimates, as Unemployment Rate Rises to 4.4%

U.S. Jobs Report Shows 119K Added in September, Unemployment Rises to 4.4%

The U.S. labor market showed stronger-than-expected growth in September, according to a Bureau of Labor Statistics report released Thursday, delayed by the recent government shutdown.

Nonfarm payrolls rose 119,000, beating economists’ forecast of 50,000. August’s reading was revised to a 4,000 decline from the previously reported gain of 22,000. The unemployment rate ticked up to 4.4% from 4.3% in August, slightly above expectations.

The report, normally published in early October, marks the resumption of official economic data, with the next update due mid-December.

Markets held steady after the release. Bitcoin traded near $91,900 following Nvidia’s strong results, while U.S. stock futures rose, led by a 1.9% gain in the Nasdaq. The 10-year Treasury yield remained at 4.11%, and the dollar edged higher.

The data is unlikely to alter expectations that the Fed will hold rates steady in December.