US added just 29,000 jobs in September in sharp drop from last month’s gains
The U.S. Labor Department reported that September saw only about 29,000 net jobs added, a steep decline from August’s gains. The unemployment rate edged up to 4.2 percent, the first rise in several months. The report, released ahead of the upcoming midterm elections, underscores a slowdown in the labor market’s recovery. Analysts note the figure falls short of economists' expectations and may influence policy discussions.