• U.S. employers added 119,000 jobs in September, surpassing expectations.
• The unemployment rate rose to 4.4% from 4.3% in August.
• Revisions showed job losses in August, indicating a weaker economy than previously thought.
• The economy faces challenges from high interest rates and uncertainties in trade policy.
• The Federal Reserve will consider these findings in their December policy meeting.

In September, U.S. employers added a surprising 119,000 jobs, significantly surpassing the anticipated figure of 50,000. This marks the first official job report following a seven-week government shutdown that delayed the release of critical employment data, leaving policymakers without a clear view of labor market conditions, according to Reuters, CBS News, and Los Angeles Times.

Despite the increase in jobs, the unemployment rate also rose to 4.4%, the highest level since October 2021. The rise in unemployment is attributed partly to 470,000 individuals entering the labor market, seeking work but not all finding jobs immediately. This dynamic highlights the challenges faced by workers in securing employment amid a sluggish job market, as detailed by BBC and Bangkok Post.

The job growth figures come in the context of significant revisions to previous months, where August actually saw a loss of 4,000 jobs rather than the reported 22,000 gain. These revisions have led economists to express concern over the overall job market health, as cumulative adjustments have indicated a reduction of 911,000 jobs from the previous estimates since March, according to India Times and Bangkok Post.

Hiring in September was particularly robust in healthcare and hospitality sectors, with these industries accounting for a majority of the new jobs. However, the manufacturing sector continued its downward trend, losing jobs for the fifth consecutive month. This uneven job growth raises concerns about whether the economy can sustain momentum without broader participation across various sectors, as highlighted by Los Angeles Times and India Times.

The Federal Reserve will review this data during its policy meeting on December 9-10, which is particularly significant given the current debates surrounding interest rate adjustments. The central bank seems hesitant to further cut rates given the mixed signals from the labor market, as pointed out by CBS News and Reuters.