KEY TAKEAWAYS
- The U.S. unemployment rate ticked up to 4.4% in September from 4.3% in August. More precise data show the rate increased to 4.440% from 4.324%, respectively.
- More people entering the labor force to look for work primarily drove the rise in September’s reading.
- Despite the modest increase in the unemployment rate, relatively strong payroll gains in September suggest no alarming softening in the labor market.