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The U.S. economy generated 156,000 new jobs in September, according to the monthly jobs report released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The results did not meet expectations: Economists had predicted between 170,000 and 176,000 new jobs for September.



In the previous report for August, the U.S. economy 

had been reported to have 151,000 new jobs

, with a steady unemployment rate. But Friday's BLS report revised that number sharply upward, to 167,000. It also changed July's number, dropping it down to a gain of 252,000 instead of the 275,000 that was reported earlier.


Putting the new data in context, the BLS says:

The unemployment rate ticked up slightly, from 4.9 to 5 percent, and the number of unemployed people was at 7.9 million, also reflecting little change. As the Labor Department said Friday, "Both measures have shown little movement, on net, since August of last year."


The report comes with the presidential campaign now in the homestretch — and as 

, both Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump are likely to seize on the numbers as a chance "for spinning a final narrative about job growth."


Here's what the BLS had to say about the wages workers are being paid:

Business and Economic News

The unemployment rate ticked up slightly, from 4.9 to 5 percent, and the number of unemployed people was reported at 7.9 million, also reflecting little change.

U.S. reports 156K new jobs created in September, lower than predicted

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