U.S. employers added 29,000 jobs in September, and unemployment rose to 4.2%

Employers added 29,000 jobs in September, the Labor Department said Friday, Oct. 2. Forecasters expected 84,000. Unemployment rose to 4.2% from 4.1% in August. Average hourly pay reached $37.81, up 3% in a year, which is below August's 3.4% inflation rate. National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett credited the 485,000 people who joined the labor force, saying they expect to "make so much money." (TS: Pay adjusted for inflation has fallen year over year for five straight months, per BLS.) Where September's jobs came and went: * Health care: +16,700 * Government, mostly local: -17,000 * Tech: -17,000

Tech employment is down 69,000 over the past year, per Joseph Politano.