The U.S. added only 29,000 jobs in September as job market lacks spark

U.S. employers added 29,000 jobs in September as the unemployment rate inched up to 4.2%. Job gains for July and August were revised down by a total of 60,000 jobs, extending a lackluster run for the job market.

<img src='https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/5346x3900+0+0/resize/5346x3900!/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F15%2F11%2Ffbb8f99343aa89932751e3c1595a%2Fgettyimages-2280053681.jpg' alt='Restaurants and bars added 11,000 jobs in September, about a third of all the jobs added during the month. Job gains for July and August were revised downward.'/><p>U.S. employers added 29,000 jobs in September as the unemployment rate inched up to 4.2%. Job gains for July and August were revised down by a total of 60,000 jobs, extending a lackluster run for the job market. </p><p>(Image credit: Justin Sullivan)</p><img src='https://media.npr.org/include/images/tracking/npr-rss-pixel.png?story=nx-s1-5989140' />