US Adds 194,000 Jobs in September, Well Short of Estimates
Summary from the AllSides News Team
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported Friday that U.S. employment rose by 194,000 in September, and the unemployment rate dropped from 5.2% to 4.8%. Economists expected roughly 500,000 jobs added. The BLS report highlighted "notable job gains occurred in leisure and hospitality, in professional and business services, in retail trade, and in transportation and warehousing," and also noted a decline in employment in public education. Average hourly earnings climbed 19 cents to $30.85 in September. The workforce has gained 17.4 million jobs since a low in April 2020, but remains roughly 5 million below its pre-pandemic level.
The September jobs report was covered prominently across the spectrum Friday. Many sources, regardless of bias, framed the news as a major disappointment, though one analysis from the New York Times (Lean Left bias) said the numbers reflect a more rapid recovery than previous ones. Reports from left-rated sources often framed the disappointing numbers as a result of the continued COVID-19 pandemic. Some left-rated voices juxtaposed the underwhelming job gains with the fact that over 8 million people lost pandemic unemployment benefits in September.
Featured Coverage of this Story
From the Right
US economy adds 194K jobs in September, missing estimatesU.S. employers hired less workers than expected last month as supplemental unemployment benefits expired.
Nonfarm payrolls increased by 194,000 workers in September as the unemployment rate fell to 4.8%, the Labor Department said Friday. Economists surveyed by Refinitiv were expecting the addition of 500,000 new jobs and the unemployment rate to slip to 5.1%.
The jobs gains in August were revised up to 366,000 from 235,000.
"The labor market recovery continues to hit the brakes this month, but is far from completely stopping," said Daniel Zhao, senior economist at Glassdoor....
From the Left
Another disappointment: US economy adds only 194,000 jobs in SeptemberAmerica's economic recovery has hit a roadblock: US employers added only 194,000 jobs in September, another troubling sign that Covid is disrupting the economy.
It marked the second-straight month in which the US economy added far fewer jobs than expected. Jobs growth slowed down dramatically in August.
The unemployment rate declined to 4.8% in September, the Bureau of Labor Statistics said Friday, down from 5.2% in August.
But, if you're an optimist, there is reason to be hopeful about the future: The surveys behind the jobs report were completed around the middle of...
From the Left
US employers add a weak 194,000 jobs as delta maintains holdU.S. employers added just 194,000 jobs in September, a second straight tepid gain and evidence that the pandemic still has a grip on the economy with many companies struggling to fill millions of open jobs.
Friday’s report from the Labor Department also showed that the unemployment rate fell sharply to 4.8% from 5.2% in August.
The economy is showing some signs of emerging from the drag of the delta variant of the coronavirus, with confirmed new COVID-19 infections declining, restaurant traffic picking up slightly and consumers eager to spend.
But...
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