The U.S. added only 29,000 jobs in September

… <h3><a href="https://www.npr.org/2026/09/19/nx-s1-5969816/federal-reserve-interest-rate-inflation-economy" data-metrics-ga4='{"category":"recirculation","action":"story_recirculation_click","clickType":"inset box","clickUrl":"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/09\/19\/nx-s1-5969816\/federal-reserve-interest-rate-inflation-economy"}'>Ever wonder how the Fed's interest rate actually works? We've got answers</a></h3> </div> </div> </div> <p>A <a href="https://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.nr0.htm" target="_blank">report from the Labor Department</a> on Friday shows employers added just 29,000 jobs last month — far fewer than forecasters had expected. Job gains for July and August were also revised down by a total of 60,000, pushing July's job totals into the red.</p> <p>The September report doesn't show widespread job cuts, although financial services and government shed workers. Most industries continued to add workers, but at a slow pace. Even healthcare, which has been a steady source of employment gains, added just 17,000 jobs last month. </p> <aside id="ad-backstage-wrap" class="ad-wrap backstage" aria-label="advertisement"><div class="ad-header "><span>Sponsor Message</span></div> …