Economists expected roughly 84,000 new jobs last month. The government's count came in at 29,000 -- and it's the last word on the labor market voters will get before they head to the polls in November.
The numbers
The Bureau of Labor Statistics said the U.S. economy added just 29,000 jobs in September, according to the report released October 2. The unemployment rate ticked up to 4.2% from 4.1% in August. Making the picture weaker still, July and August job gains were revised down by a combined 60,000 -- extending what's been a lackluster run for hiring.
Where the jobs were -- and weren't
Health care kept adding jobs, about 17,000 of them, though at a slower pace than its historical trend. Restaurants and bars added roughly 11,000. Financial services and government both posted losses for the month. Average wages rose just 3% annually, a slowdown from the prior month and not enough to keep up with inflation, according to the report.
What economists are saying
"The good news is you're not seeing a lot of layoffs," Wells Fargo senior economist Sarah House said. She noted entry-level job seekers are facing more difficulty, since reduced turnover means fewer openings for people trying to break in.
What's next
The weak report is likely to keep the Federal Reserve on hold at its upcoming meeting. It also lands as the final jobs snapshot before November's midterm elections, giving both parties a fresh data point to argue over in the campaign's closing weeks.
