The labor market in the United States advanced at a moderate pace in September, with only 29,000 new non-farm jobs, while the unemployment rate remained virtually stable at 4.2%.
The data is part of the official employment report published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), which also shows significant downward revisions for the previous two months.
The result for September was below the average of 45,000 new jobs per month recorded over the previous 12 months, another sign that labor market growth remains constrained.
Unemployment remains at 4.2%
The national unemployment rate stood at 4.2%, practically unchanged from August.
The number of unemployed persons remained around 7.1 million.
Since March, the U.S. unemployment rate has fluctuated within a relatively narrow range of 4.1% to 4.3%, according to the BLS.
The labor force participation rate stood at 61.8%, while the proportion of employed population was 59.2%.
Unemployment among Hispanic workers: 4.7%
Among the main demographic groups analyzed by the BLS, the unemployment rate for the Hispanic or Latino population stood at 4.7% in September, with no statistically significant change compared to the previous month.
The rate was 3.9% among adult men and 3.6% among adult women.
Among Black workers, unemployment rose to 7.0%, while it stood at 3.6% among White workers and 2.9% among Asian workers.
These percentages correspond to broad national groups and do not specifically represent the situation of workers in Cuba or Florida.
Julio ended up losing jobs
One of the most important points in the report is the reviews from the previous months.
The BLS revised the employment growth for July from the initially reported 21,000 jobs to a net loss of 10,000 jobs.
It also revised August from 162,000 to 133,000 new jobs.
Overall, July and August ended with 60,000 fewer jobs than previously reported.
These revisions are common in labor reports, as the BLS later incorporates additional responses from businesses and government agencies and recalculates certain seasonal factors.
Salud continues to create jobs
Although employment changed little in most of the major sectors of the economy, healthcare continued to show growth.
The sector added approximately 17,000 jobs in September, although at a pace lower than the monthly average of 33,000 positions recorded during the previous 12 months.
In the health sector, outpatient services accounted for approximately 13,000 workers, while hospitals employed about 12,000.
In contrast, nursing and residential care centers lost approximately 9,000 jobs.
The BLS noted that employment showed little change in September across the remaining major sectors.
Salaries rose to $37.81 per hour
The average hourly wage for private sector employees increased by five cents in September, reaching $37.81.
Compared to September of the previous year, average salaries increased by 3.0%.
For production workers and non-supervisory employees in the private sector, the average hourly wage increased by seven cents, reaching 32.60 dollars.
The average workweek in the private sector remained at 34.4 hours.
More people have been looking for jobs for months
The number of long-term unemployed individuals —those without work for at least 27 weeks— remained around 1.9 million.
This group represented 27.1% of all unemployed people during September.
There were also about 414,000 workers considered discouraged, meaning people who wanted to work but had stopped actively seeking employment because they believed there were no available opportunities for them.
What does the report mean for someone seeking a job?
The 29,000 jobs added in September represent a national figure and do not mean that job opportunities have disappeared.
The report, however, shows that net job creation is at low levels compared to the pace of recent years, and many sectors barely adjusted their workforce during September.
For those who are looking for work, it is especially important to check which sectors and regions are still hiring.
Health continues to be one of the areas where the BLS records growth, although conditions can vary significantly from one state or metropolitan area to another.
Florida and Miami-Dade have their own distinct labor reality
National figures do not replace the specific data for Florida or the opportunities available in the southern part of the state.
In Miami-Dade, for example, there are still job openings in administration, maintenance, technology, cleaning, and other areas.
CiberCuba recently compiled various public job vacancies in Miami-Dade along with their requirements, salaries, and application procedures.
Florida has also recently raised its general minimum wage to 15 dollars per hour as of September 30.
CiberCuba explained the wage change, which completed the schedule of increases approved by state voters in 2020.
The next report will arrive in November
The BLS is scheduled to publish the report for October on Friday, November 6, 2026, at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time.
This report will help determine whether the weak growth in September was a one-time phenomenon or if the labor market continues to generate jobs at a reduced pace.
For now, the data shows a clear combination: little creation of new positions, stable unemployment, and salaries that are still increasing compared to the previous year.
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