United StatesJobsHigh impact
US nonfarm payrolls rise by 29K in September, below 90K forecast
US nonfarm payrolls added 29K jobs in September, falling short of expectations, while the unemployment rate came in at 4.2 percent.
By M. A. Horaira. Published . 2 minute read.
61K below forecast
In 30 seconds
- September nonfarm payrolls rose by 29K, coming in 61K below the 90K forecast.
- The unemployment rate stood at 4.2 percent, with previous months revised lower.
- Average hourly earnings were 37.81 USD, while the average workweek stood at 34.4 hours.
What the numbers showed
US nonfarm payrolls grew by 29K in September 2026, down from 133K in August and missing the 90K forecast by 61K. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that both nonfarm payroll employment and the unemployment rate of 4.2 percent changed little over the month.
Prior months also saw downward revisions. The change in nonfarm employment for July was revised down by 31K to -10K, while August was revised down by 29K to 133K. Employment in all major industries changed little over the month.
Among other measures, the labor force participation rate stood at 61.8 percent and the employment-population ratio was 59.2 percent. Average hourly earnings were 37.81 USD, and the average workweek was 34.4 hours.
Why it matters
Traders track the US jobs report closely because hiring trends shape the outlook for Federal Reserve interest rate policy. Slower employment growth can soften rate expectations, which tends to put downward pressure on the dollar. In such environments, EURUSD can find upward momentum, while USDJPY tends to ease alongside falling yields.
Gold prices can also react to signs of labor market cooling. A softer dollar and lower interest rate expectations often support gold, as the opportunity cost of holding non-yielding bullion decreases.
What it means for India
For market participants in India, weaker US employment data can affect the rupee and foreign investor flows. A softer dollar can help stabilize the rupee and encourage foreign institutional inflows into domestic assets.
Domestic bullion traders watch MCX gold, which follows movements in international gold (XAUUSD) alongside the USDINR exchange rate. When global bullion rises while the rupee strengthens against the dollar, the net price movement on MCX reflects the balance between the two.
The last 6 releases
Show as a table
| Release | Nonfarm payrolls, monthly change |
|---|---|
| Apr | 148K |
| May | 63K |
| Jun | 31K |
| Jul | -10K |
| Aug | 133K |
| Sep | 29K |
What to watch next
India CPI (September)- US CPI (September)
- Fed decision
Key data releases ahead include India CPI (September) on Mon 12 Oct 2026, 4:00 p.m. IST, followed by US CPI (September) on Wed 14 Oct 2026, 6:00 p.m. IST. Markets will also monitor the Fed decision scheduled for Wed 28 Oct 2026, 11:30 p.m. IST.
Quick answers
What was the headline US nonfarm payrolls figure for September 2026?
Nonfarm payrolls rose by 29K in September 2026, coming in 61K below the forecast of 90K and down from 133K in August.
What was the US unemployment rate in September 2026?
The unemployment rate stood at 4.2 percent, while the labor force participation rate was 61.8 percent.
Were previous jobs figures revised in the September report?
Yes. July payrolls were revised down by 31K to -10K, and August payrolls were revised down by 29K to 133K.
Sources
This article explains a scheduled economic release for education. It is not investment advice or a recommendation to buy or sell anything. Prices move fast around news; check live quotes before you trade.