U.S. nonfarm payrolls increased by 119,000 jobs in September, surpassing analysts’ expectations of 50,000.

The unemployment rate rose to 4.4%, the highest since October 2021, due to more people entering the labor market.

The big picture: August’s job total was revised down to a loss of 4,000 jobs from an earlier reported gain. • The healthcare sector led job growth with 43,000 new jobs, mainly in ambulatory services and hospitals. • Employment at restaurants and bars grew by 37,000; social assistance jobs increased by 14,000. • Transportation and warehousing lost 25,000 jobs; federal government payrolls declined by 3,000 in September, totaling a 97,000 loss since January.

Driving the news: The government shutdown delayed the October employment report; October and November payroll

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