MW: U.S. gains 142,000 new jobs in September; unemployment 5.1%
WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) - The U.S. economy created just 142,000 new jobs in September and the number of new hires in August and July was also revised lower, suggesting the labor market cooled off toward the end of summer. The unemployment rate was unchanged at 5.1%, though more people dropped out of the labor force. Economists polled by MarketWatch had expected a gain of 200,000 nonfarm jobs, so the results are sure to disappoint Wall Street and raise questions about whether the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates at all in 2015. Employment gains for August and july were revised down by a combined 59,000, the Labor Department said Friday. The government said 136,000 new jobs were created in August instead of 173,000. July's gain was cut to 223,000 from 245,000.
