October 2026_________________________
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The BLS Establishment Job Report with data released October 2, 2026.
Commentary From This Month’s Establishment Jobs Press Report
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) published its October report for jobs in September. The Household Survey for September shows the adult civilian population increased by 139 thousand. This month’s changes were like last month only smaller with the labor force up by 485 thousand, the employed up 406 thousand, and the unemployed, up 78 thousand. Those not in the labor force declined 346 thousand. The increase in the unemployed was large enough to raise the unemployment rate .1 percent to 4.2 percent. The labor force participation rate increased .2 percent to 61.8 percent, low but better.
The seasonally adjusted total of establishment
employment was up 29 thousand for September. The increase was 28 thousand more
jobs in the private service sector combined with an increase of 18 thousand
jobs from goods production. The total of 46 thousand new jobs in the private
sector combined with a(n) decrease of 17 thousand government service jobs
accounts for the total change.
Goods production had 18 thousand new jobs but with natural
resources down 2 thousand jobs; construction added 11.2 thousand jobs. Specialty
trade contractors had a net increase of 4.4 thousand jobs with residential contractors
off 7.9 thousand jobs while non-residential contractors added 12.3 thousand
jobs. Construction of buildings added another 4.2 thousand jobs. Heavy and
civil engineering construction added 2.6 thousand jobs.
Manufacturing had an increase of 9 thousand jobs with 8
thousand more durable goods jobs and a thousand new jobs in non-durable goods
production. Among durable goods, machinery manufacturing added 4.5 thousand
jobs and transportation equipment added another 3.4 thousand jobs among other
small gains and losses. Non-durable goods production did poorly but plastics and
rubber manufacturing added 4.6 thousand jobs; other sub sector manufacturing had
job losses.
Government service employment was down 17 thousand
jobs with all levels of government losing jobs. The federal government dropped a
thousand jobs. State government was down 3 thousand jobs while local government
was down 13 thousand jobs. State and local government excluding education was
down a net of 10.3 thousand jobs: state government up .3 thousand jobs, but local
government off 10.6 thousand jobs. State public education was off 2.7 thousand jobs
with local government education down as well, dropping 1.8 thousand jobs.
Private sector education was off 3.2 thousand jobs for a net education job loss
of 7.7 thousand jobs.
Health care took first place among service sectors
with a modest 23 thousand jobs. Three of the four health care subsectors added
jobs with ambulatory care adding 13.4 thousand jobs; hospitals added another 12
thousand jobs. Nursing and residential care was down 8.7 thousand jobs. Social
assistance services added a net of 6.3 thousand jobs with 10.5 thousand of the new
jobs in individual and family services offset with a decreasing month for jobs
in child care services, down 2.3 thousand jobs. The growth rate for health care
was down from last month to 1.15 percent, well below the average of 2.25
percent per month of the last 15 years.
Trade, transportation and utilities added a net 18
thousand jobs with wholesale trade up 5 thousand jobs and retail trade up 5.8
thousand jobs. Transportation had 7.6 thousand jobs but with the couriers and
messengers and transportation and storage subsectors posting job losses of 4.8
thousand. Truck and transit services had the new jobs here, up 5.7 thousand,
among other smaller gains and losses. Utilities added 500 jobs.
Leisure and hospitality had a modest increase of 9.7
thousand new jobs that follows last month’s big increase. The arts,
entertainment and recreation sub sector added just 2.5 thousand jobs, following
job losses last month. The amusement, gambling and recreation subsector was
down 3.1 thousand of the jobs. Accommodation and food services did poorly as
well with accommodations down 3.6 thousand jobs. Restaurants had 10.8 thousand new
jobs, but still an off month for restaurant jobs.
Professional and business service jobs went down a net
of 9.4 thousand jobs, more than last month. The professional and technical
service sub sector was up a net 6.4 thousand jobs; management of companies was
off 500 jobs. The third sub sector, administrative and support services
including waste management, lost 15.3 thousand jobs.
Among professional and technical services architecture
and engineering services added 5.8 thousand jobs while legal services and
scientific research and development services each added 2 thousand jobs. Computer
systems and design services had another off month dropping 4.4 thousand jobs among
other small gains and losses. Administrative support services did poorly with
the always volatile employment services dropping 14.3 thousand jobs. while waste
management and remediation services had an unusually large gain of 2.3 thousand
jobs.
Information services lost 10 thousand jobs, a second
month of job losses although a smaller job loss than last month. Computing,
data processing and web hosting had 200 more jobs, but the publishing industry had the biggest job
losses down 4 thousand jobs where all other information sub sectors lost jobs. Finance
and real estate lost 7 thousand jobs in yet another month of job losses. All
the finance and insurance subsectors lost jobs, even insurance carriers. Real
estate was down as well; only rental and leasing services had more jobs, up 2.7
thousand. The other services category had a net of 5.7 thousand more jobs, down
from last month. Repair and maintenance services was down again losing 3.9 thousand
jobs. Personal and laundry services was up 200 jobs while there were 9.4
thousand more jobs at non-profit associations.
The economy added just 29 thousand jobs for September. Establishment employment in September was reported as 159.044 million with an annual growth rate of +.22 percent. Again this month, job totals gyrate up and down with health care showing another low job increase, less than a quarter of the jobs it should have, professional and business services doing poorly and information services and finance both with sharp job declines. This month’s job total is 496 thousand above September a year ago and 1.132 million jobs above September two years ago. Both totals are very low.
September Details
Jobs
Total Non-Farm Establishment Jobs up 29,000 to 159,044,000
Total Private Jobs up 46,000 to 135,717,000
Total Government Employment down 17,000 to 23,327,000 Note
Civilian Non-Institutional Population up 139 thousand to 275,554,000
Civilian Labor Force up 485 thousand to 170,262,000
Employed
up 406 thousand to 163,152,000
Employed Men up 158 thousand to 85,495,000
Employed Women up 248 thousand to 77,657,000
Unemployed up 78 thousand to 7,109,000
Not in the Labor Force down 346 thousand to 105,292,000
Unemployment Rate increased by .1% to 4.2% or 7,109/170,262
Labor Force Participation Rate increased .2 percent to 61.8%, or 170,262/275,554
Summaries by Industry
Non Farm
Total +29
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported Non-Farm employment for establishments increased from August by 29 thousand jobs for a(n) September total of 159.044 million. (Note 1 below) An increase of 29 thousand each month for the next 12 months represents an annual growth rate of .22% The annual growth rate from a year ago beginning September 2025 was +.31%; the average annual growth rate from 5 years ago beginning September 2021 was +1.54%; from 15 years ago beginning September 2011 it was +1.23%. America needs growth around 1.5 percent a year to keep itself employed.
Sector breakdown for 12 Sectors in 000’s of jobs
1. Natural
Resources -2
Natural Resources jobs including logging and mining decreased 2 thousand from August with 607 thousand jobs in September. A decrease of 2 thousand jobs each month for the next 12 months would be an annual growth rate of -3.94 percent. Natural resource jobs were up 2 thousand from a year ago. Jobs in 2000 averaged around 603 thousand with little prospect for growth. This is the smallest of 12 major sectors of the economy with .4 percent of establishment jobs.
2.
Construction +11
Construction jobs were up 11 thousand from August with 8.364 million jobs in September. An increase of 11 thousand jobs each month for the next 12 months would be an annual growth rate of +1.58 percent. Construction jobs are up 109 thousand for the 12 months just ended. The growth rate for the last 15 years is 2.73%. Construction jobs rank 9th among the 12 sectors with 5.3 percent of non-farm employment.
3.
Manufacturing +9
Manufacturing jobs were up 9 thousand from August with 12.652 million jobs in September. An increase of 9 thousand jobs each month for the next 12 months would be an annual growth rate of +.85 percent. Manufacturing jobs were up for the last 12 months by 40 thousand. The growth rate for the last 15 years is +.49%. Manufacturing ranks 6th among 12 major sectors in the economy with 7.9 percent of establishment jobs.
4. Trade,
Transportation & Utility +18
Trade, both wholesale and retail, transportation and utility employment were up 18 thousand jobs from August with 28.778 million jobs in September. An increase of 18 thousand jobs each month for the next 12 months would be an annual growth rate of +.75 percent. Jobs are up by 53 thousand for last 12 months. Growth rates for the last 15 years are +.93 percent. Jobs in these sectors rank first as the biggest sectors with combined employment of 18.1 percent of total establishment employment.
5.
Information Services -10
Information Services employment was down by 10 thousand jobs from August with 2.739 million jobs in September. (Note 2 below) A decrease of 10 thousand jobs each month for the next 12 months would be an annual growth rate of -4.37 percent. Jobs are down by 120 thousand for the last 12 months. Information jobs reached 3.7 million at the end of 2000, but started dropping, reaching 3 million by 2004 but has stayed below 3.0 million for more than a decade. Information Services is a small sector ranking 11th of 12 with 1.8 percent of establishment jobs.
6. Financial
Activities -7
Financial Activities employment was down by 7 thousand jobs from August to 9.082 million in September. (Note 3 below) (Note 2 below) A decrease of 7 thousand jobs each month for the next 12 months would be an annual growth rate of -.92 percent. Jobs are down by 107 thousand for the last 12 months. This sector also includes real estate as well as real estate lending. The 15 year growth rate is +1.11 percent. Financial activities rank 8th of 12 with 5.8 percent of establishment jobs.
7. Business
and Professional Services -9
Business and Professional Service jobs went down 9 thousand from August to 22.482 million in September. A decrease of 9 thousand each month for the next 12 months would be an annual growth rate of -.48 percent. Jobs are down 47 thousand for the last 12 months. Note 4 The annual growth rate for the last 15 years was +1.74 percent. It ranks as 2nd among the 12 sectors now. It was 2nd in 1993, when manufacturing was bigger and third rank now with 14.1 percent of establishment employment.
8. Education
including public and private -8
Education jobs were down 8 thousand jobs from August at 14.853 million in September. A decrease of 8 thousand jobs each month for the next 12 months would be an annual growth rate of -.62 percent. These include public and private education. Jobs are down 52 thousand for the last 12 months. (note 5) The 15 year growth rate equals +.67 percent. Education ranks 5th among 12 sectors with 9.4 percent of establishment jobs.
9. Health
Care +23
Health care jobs were up 23 thousand from August to 23.959 million in September. An increase of 23 thousand each month for the next 12 months would be an annual growth rate of +1.16 percent. Jobs are up 546 thousand for the last 12 months. (note 6) The health care long term 15-year growth rate has been +2.25 percent lately compared to +1.16 percent for this month’s jobs. Health care ranks 2nd of 12 with 15.0 percent of establishment jobs.
10. Leisure
and hospitality +10
Leisure and hospitality jobs were up 10 thousand from August to 16.969 million in September. (note 7) An increase of 10 thousand each month for the next 12 months would be an annual growth rate of +.71 percent. Jobs are down 121 thousand for the last 12 months. More than 80 percent of leisure and hospitality are accommodations and restaurants assuring that most of the new jobs are in restaurants. Leisure and hospitality ranks 4th of 12 with 10.7 percent of establishment jobs. It moved up to 7th from 4th in the pandemic decline.
11. Other +6
Other Service jobs, which include repair, maintenance, personal services and non-profit organizations were up 6 thousand from August to 6.039 million in September. An increase of 6 thousand each month for the next 12 months would be an annual growth rate of +1.19 percent. Jobs are up 34 thousand for the last 12 months. (Note 8) Other services had +.77 percent growth for the last 15 years. These sectors rank 10th of 12 with 3.8 percent of total non-farm establishment jobs.
12.
Government, excluding education -11
Government service employment went down 11 thousand from August at 12.521 million jobs in September. A decrease of 11 thousand each month for the next 12 months would be an annual growth rate of -1.08 percent. Jobs are down 167 thousand for the last 12 months. (note 9) Government jobs excluding education tend to increase slowly with a 15 year growth rate of +.39 percent. Government, excluding education, ranks 7th of 12 with 7.9 percent of total non-farm establishment jobs.
Prices and inflation measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for all Urban Consumers was up by a monthly average of 2.9 percent for 2025.
The CPI September report for the 12 months ending with August shows the
CPI for All
Items was up 3.4%
CPI for Food
and Beverages was up 2.6%
CPI for
Housing was up 3.1%
CPI for
Apparel was up 3.6%
CPI for
Transportation including gasoline was up 6.2%
CPI for
Medical Care was up 1.6%
CPI for
Recreation was up 2.7%
CPI for
Education was up 3.3%
CPI for
Communication was up 1.1%
Sector Notes__________________________
(1) The total cited above is non-farm establishment employment that counts jobs and not people. If one person has two jobs then two jobs are counted. It excludes agricultural employment and the self employed. Out of a total of people employed agricultural employment typically has about 1.5 percent, the self employed about 6.8 percent, the rest make up wage and salary employment. Jobs and people employed are close to the same, but not identical numbers because jobs are not the same as people employed: some hold two jobs. Remember all these totals are jobs. back
(2) Information Services is part of the new North American Industry Classification System(NAICS). It includes firms or establishments in publishing, motion picture & sound recording, broadcasting, Internet publishing and broadcasting, telecommunications, ISPs, web search portals, data processing, libraries, archives and a few others.back
(3) Financial Activities includes deposit and non-deposit credit firms, most of which are still known as banks, savings and loan and credit unions, but also real estate firms and general and commercial rental and leasing.back
(4) Business and Professional services includes the professional areas such as legal services, architecture, engineering, computing, advertising and supporting services including office services, facilities support, services to buildings, security services, employment agencies and so on.back
(5) Education includes private and public education. Therefore education job totals include public schools and colleges as well as private schools and colleges. back
(6) Health care includes ambulatory care, private hospitals, nursing and residential care, and social services including child care. back
(7) Leisure and hospitality has establishment with arts, entertainment and recreation which has performing arts, spectator sports, gambling, fitness centers and others, which are the leisure part. The hospitality part has accommodations, motels, hotels, RV parks, and full service and fast food restaurants. back
(8) Other is a smorgasbord of repair and maintenance services, especially car repair, personal services and non-profit services of organizations like foundations, social advocacy and civic groups, and business, professional, labor unions, political groups and political parties. back
(9) Government job totals include federal, state, and local government administrative work but without education jobs. back
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Notes
Jobs are not the same as employment because jobs are counted once but one person could have two jobs adding one to employment but two to jobs. Also the employment numbers include agricultural workers, the self employed, unpaid family workers, household workers and those on unpaid leave. Jobs are establishment jobs and non-other. back
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