U.S. Adds 29,000 Jobs in September, Unemployment Rises to 4.2%

Why it matters locally: While national trends do not directly dictate Hawaii's employment figures, a general slowdown in the national job market could eventually influence sectors critical to the state's economy, such as tourism and federal government spending.

U.S. employers expanded payrolls by 29,000 jobs in September. The national unemployment rate reached 4.2% during the same period. Government data also showed revisions to job gains for previous months. Officials reduced the job additions for July and August by a combined total of 60,000. These adjustments indicate a slower rate of job market expansion.