The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported a rise in total nonfarm payroll employment in September 2023, with the unemployment rate remaining steady at 3.8%.
The primary sectors that fueled this growth were leisure and hospitality; government; health care; professional, scientific and technical services; and social assistance, according to a press release from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Notably, the leisure and hospitality sector welcomed 96,000 new jobs, surpassing its yearly monthly average growth of 61,000. The food services and drinking places segment, in particular, rebounded to its pre-pandemic levels seen in February 2020.
Government roles also surged in September, with 73,000 jobs added, exceeding its yearly monthly average by a significant margin. Key areas of growth within this sector were state government education and local government, aside from education.
The healthcare industry witnessed the addition of 41,000 jobs, especially in ambulatory healthcare services, hospitals and nursing and residential care facilities. The professional, scientific and technical services sector grew by 29,000 jobs, aligning with its annual average.
However, it wasn't all rosy. The transportation and warehousing sectors barely changed, registering a minor increase of 9,000 jobs. Additionally, the information sector, particularly the motion picture and sound recording industries, faced challenges, possibly due to ongoing labor disputes.
On the earnings front, the average hourly wage for all private nonfarm payroll employees climbed by 7 cents to $33.88. This represents a 4.2% hike over the past year, while the average workweek hours stood unchanged at 34.4.
Finally, the press release stated that adjustments were made to the employment figures of previous months. July's numbers were revised upward from +157,000 to +236,000, and August's from +187,000 to +227,000. This indicates a combined elevation of 119,000 jobs than what was first reported.