U.S. adds jobs in Sept.; unemployment rate unchanged

WASHINGTON (Oct. 2, 2015) — Nonfarm payroll employment grew by 142,000 jobs in September 2015, according to the latest figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

The unemployment rate stayed at 5.1 percent, according to the BLS report released Oct. 2.

The greatest September job gains were in healthcare (up 34,000), professional and business services (up 31,000) and retail trade (up 24,000). Auto dealers hired about 5,000 people in September, the BLS said.

Areas which saw little or no change in employment included manufacturing, wholesale trade and transportation and warehousing, according to the BLS.

Scott Paul, president of the Alliance for American Manufacturing, noted that U.S. manufacturing lost 9,000 jobs in September and 19,000 in August.

“Today's dismal jobs report is a reminder of just how far we have to go towards a true recovery in manufacturing,” Mr. Paul said.

However, small business job creation was at its highest level for the year, according to William C. Dunkelberg, chief economist for the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB).

“According to our monthly survey, September showed a solid improvement in hiring activity,” Mr. Dunkelberg said. He said he expected a major upward revision of the BLS' August numbers because the NFIB can find no evidence of job creation slacking off from June and July.

However, Michael Hicks, director of the Center for Business and Economic Research at Ball State University, noted that the BLS revised job gains in July down by 22,000 jobs and in August by 37,000 jobs.

The September jobs report is definitive evidence of a slowing economy, according to Mr. Hicks.

“With 142,000 jobs created in September, employment is only slightly ahead of the expected population growth,” he said. “But more than 300,000 people also exited the labor force.”

ADP Inc., the payroll services firm, said the U.S. created 200,000 jobs in September in its latest ADP National Employment Report, issued Sept. 30.

The largest gains in September were in large businesses, with 109,000 jobs added within companies with 1,000 or more employees, ADP said. However, companies with 500-999 employees lost 3,000 jobs.

Small businesses with 1-19 employees gained 19,000 jobs in September, as did businesses with 20-49 employees, according to ADP. Medium-sized businesses (50-499 employees) gained 56,000 jobs.

The vast majority of new jobs in September — 188,000 — were in the service-producing sector, with the goods-producing sectors gaining only 12,000, according to ADP. Trade/transportation/utilities added 39,000 jobs, but manufacturing lost 15,000, it said.

Franchise jobs rose by 33,000 in September, including 6,600 new jobs in auto parts and dealers, ADP said.