September's Unemployment Rate Hovers at 6.1 Percent

After soaring 0.4 percent in August, the unemployment rate held at 6.1 percent in September. Nonfarm payroll employment declined by 159,000the U.S. Department of Labor reports.  Employment continued to fall in construction, manufacturing, and retail trade, while mining and health care continued to add jobs.

The number of unemployed persons was little changed at 9.5 million.  Over the past 12 months, the number of unemployed persons has increased by 2.2 million and the unemployment rate has risen by 1.4 percentage points.