WASHINGTON – U.S. job growth accelerated in September, but the unemployment rate increased to a four-year high of 4.4% and the economy in August shed jobs for the second time this year as employers navigate an uncertain environment. 

The increase in the jobless rate to the highest level since October 2021 reported by the Labor Department in its closely watched employment report on Thursday was from 4.3% in August and reflected more people entering the labor market in search of work. Other data from the Labor Department showed layoffs remained low in mid-November, suggesting the labor market remained in a holding pattern.

“The combined jobs market data this morning does not point to a rapid deterioration of labor market conditions and affirms a modest growth path in the economy and employment,” said Joseph Brusuelas, chief economist at RSM US. “Today’s economic data will feed into the recent monetary policy narrative that the rate cut is neither prudent nor necessary,” when the Federal Reserve next meets in December. 

Nonfarm payrolls increased by 119,000 jobs after a downwardly revised 4,000 drop in August, the Labor Department’s Bureau of Labor Statistics said. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast 50,000 jobs would be added after a previously reported 22,000 gain in August. 

The report was initially due on Oct. 3, but was delayed by the 43-day shutdown of the government. The longest shutdown in history has forced the BLS to cancel the release of October’s report as no data was collected for the household survey to calculate the unemployment rate for that month.  October nonfarm payrolls will instead be combined with November’s employment report now due on Dec. 16, the BLS said.

The health care sector continued to lead employment growth, adding 43,000 jobs in September, which were in ambulatory services and at hospitals.  Employment at restaurants and bars increased 37,000, while social assistance payrolls advanced by 14,000. The transportation and warehousing industry lost 25,000 jobs.

Federal government payrolls decreased by another 3,000 jobs, bringing the total losses since January to 97,000. That number is expected to surge as tens of thousands of workers who took buyouts fell off government payrolls at the end of September.

The labor market has lost significant momentum this year as evidenced by sharp downward revisions to nonfarm payroll counts. Economists and policymakers blame the slowdown on reduced supply and demand for workers.

Heading into the economic data blackout, the BLS had estimated that about 911,000 fewer jobs were created in the 12 months through March than previously reported. A reduction in immigration that started during the final year of former President Joe Biden’s term and accelerated under President Donald Trump’s administration has depleted labor supply.

Economists estimate the economy now only needs to create between 30,000 and 50,000 jobs per month to keep up with growth in the working-age population, down from about 150,000 in 2024. About 470,000 people entered the labor force in September, but household employment only increased by 251,000 that month.

The rising popularity of artificial intelligence is also eroding demand for labor, with most of the hit landing on entry-level positions, and locking recent college graduates out of work.