September jobs report underwhelming
Gains were made overall but fall short of predictions
The delayed September jobs report was met with disappointment when the Bureau of Labor Statistics released it this morning. Even the usually strong healthcare numbers were uninspiring, remaining nearly unchanged from August.
Healthcare added 6,800 jobs last month, with gains in ambulatory healthcare services (8,100), physician offices (2,800) and outpatient care centers (4,700) softened by losses in nursing care facilities (4,300).
The BLS report noted that the healthcare industry has only added an average of 19,000 jobs a month this year, compared to an average of 27,000 a month in 2012.
Overall, the country added 148,000 jobs in September, far below economists’ predictions of 180,000 or so. The unemployment rate moved down a smidgen, from 7.3 percent in August to 7.2 percent in September.
Those industries with solid gains include construction (20,000), wholesale trade (16,000), transportation and warehousing (16,000) and professional and business services (more than 32,000).
BLS noted in its report that data collection for the September outlook had been completed before the federal shutdown began on Oct. 1, but the release of that information, which had been scheduled for Oct. 4, was delayed because of the shutdown.
There is some speculation in media reports that the shutdown will impact the October employment outlook because of the anxiety and uncertainty created by the shutdown and the political climate, as well as the numbers of furloughed workers during the shutdown. October employment numbers have been rescheduled to be released on Nov. 8 instead of the previously scheduled Nov. 1, also a result of the government shutdown.
