Jobs are growing in food services, health care, government social assistance and construction – as total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 254,000 in September.  That’s according to newly released data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, which also shows the unemployment rate changed little at 4.1%.  

“Employers accelerated hiring in September, surpassing consensus expectations and easing concerns about weakness in the labor market after the summer slowdown. Job gains were spread across several industries relative to the prior two months,” said America’s Credit Unions Senior Economist Dawit Kebede. “This report strengthens the likelihood of a soft landing for the economy as the Federal Reserve begins loosening monetary policy and inflation trends toward its target.”