US Jobless Rate Steady at 3.8% as Labor Market Shows Soft Landing Signs

The U.S. unemployment rate held at 3.8% in September with non-farm payrolls rising by 180,000, matching expectations and signaling moderation without sharp weakness. Average hourly earnings grew 0.2% month-on-month, down from August’s 0.3%. Economists said the steady labor trend supports a possible Fed rate cut in November if October inflation confirms cooling prices. Manufacturing and leisure sectors added the most jobs while temporary hiring declined. Analysts expect the data to reinforce a ‘soft landing’ narrative for the U.S. economy heading into Q4 2025.