US economy adds less than expected jobs in September

The US jobs report showed today that the US economy added 661,000 jobs in September compared to 1.489 million jobs in August, the lowest rate of rise since the jobs recovery began in May, and analysts ’expectations were that the US economy would add 850,000 jobs in September.

The data also showed that the unemployment rate in the United States fell to 7.9% in September from 8.4% in August, and the labor force participation rate decreased to 61.4% in September from 61.7% in August.

US jobless claims fell by 36,000 to 837,000, seasonally adjusted, for the week ending September 26th, and continuing jobless claims fell by 980,000 to 11.767 million for the week ending September 19.