US Jobs Market Shows Signs of Weakening as Employers Add Just 29,000 New Positions

The US Labor Department reported that employers added only 29,000 jobs in September, a disappointing number that falls short of economists' expectations. The unemployment rate ticked up to 4.2% from 4.1% in August.

The slowdown in hiring is particularly noteworthy given the country's recent economic struggles, including high inflation and interest rates. Economists had predicted around 90,000 new jobs for September.

One area of concern is the healthcare industry, which added only half its usual number of jobs last month - just 17,000. The industry has been struggling with changes to work authorizations for Haitians.