Headline RoundupOctober 8th, 2021

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

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