U.S. payrolls gain 29,000 as unemployment rate rises to 4.2%
Stockwhiz•02/10/2026•09:15 ET
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Key Highlights
- ➤September payrolls +29,000, missing economists’ 89,000 forecast
- ➤Unemployment rate rose to 4.2% versus projected 4.1%
- ➤July-August payroll gains revised down by 60,000 combined
- ➤Average hourly wages rose 0.1% month-on-month, below expectations
- ➤Markets priced 84% probability of Fed rate hold, up from 76%
Expert Statements
Vital Knowledge analysts, Analysts at Vital Knowledge
“knee-jerk reaction is dovish”
Vital Knowledge analysts, Analysts at Vital Knowledge
“cares much more about inflation than employment right now, which means this [...] reading isn’t likely to alter the mindset of many at the central bank.”
U.S. employers added 29,000 jobs in September, missing economists’ 89,000 forecast, while unemployment rose to 4.2% and markets increased bets on a Federal Reserve rate hold.
July’s change in total nonfarm payrolls was revised down by 31,000 from a previously reported gain of 21,000. After revisions, employment gains for July and August combined were 60,000 lower than previously reported, according to Labor Department data released Friday.
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