US labor market data today: September report finally online

2025-12-24 18:29:59

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After months of delay, the unemployment figures in the USA have finally been released today. The reason for the delayed publication was the US federal government shutdown – the longest in the country’s history.

The Numbers at a Glance

What do the current labor market data show? In September 2025, employment outside the agricultural sector increased by 50,000 jobs. While this is an improvement compared to August (when only 22,000 new jobs were added), it still indicates a significant slowdown in the labor market. The unemployment rate remains at 4.3% – an unchanged high level was also expected.

Wage Development Remains Stable

Regarding hourly wages, there is continuity: in September, they increased by 0.3% compared to the previous month. Year-over-year, wage growth remains at 4.7%, indicating persistent inflation dynamics.

Political Delays as a Source of Uncertainty

The shutdown had significant impacts on data publication. The September report was supposed to be available by October 3rd. Even more critically: the October report will not be published at all. The reason lies in the Current Population Survey – the necessary household surveys could not be conducted in October due to budget constraints. This leaves a statistically blind phase in labor market observation.

What the US Labor Market Data Today Mean

The combination of moderate employment growth and stable wages suggests a labor market that is slowly cooling down without collapsing. Investors are paying close attention to these unemployment figures today – they could impact future interest rate decisions.

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