WASHINGTON (Oct. 22, 13) — Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 148,000 jobs in September, according to the latest figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, while the unemployment rate barely changed at 7.2 percent.
The BLS figures were due out Oct. 4 but were delayed because of the federal government shutdown that lasted from Oct. 1-17. The effect of the shutdown on unemployment will be reflected in the figures due out in early November.
The strongest employment gains in September were in transportation and warehousing (up 23,000 jobs), construction (up 20,000 jobs), professional and business services (up 32,000 jobs) and wholesale trade (up 16,000 jobs). In retail trade, auto dealers alone saw an employment increase of 4,000 jobs.
Other employment sectors, however, either declined—such as financial services, down 8,000 jobs—or changed little, such as manufacturing, which inched up a mere 2,000 jobs.
"Today's job figures show that American manufacturing is now suffering a jobs recession that has lasted for eight months," said Alan Tonelson, research fellow for the U.S. Business and Industry Council.
Domestic manufacturing is not enjoying the renaissance touted by the Obama administration, according to Mr. Tonelson. "Instead, the sector engineered a thoroughly cyclical rebound early in the present economic recovery that is now petering out," he said.