Non-farm payrolls rose by 148,000 in September and the unemployment rate dipped to 7.2% from 7.3% in in August, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Tuesday.
In August, non-farm payrolls rose a revised 193,000, originally reported as 169,000.
Economists polled by Thomson/Reuters expected 180,000 new jobs.
Private payrolls grew 126,000 in the month, following a 161,000 gain in August. Manufacturing jobs rose by 2,000, after a 13,000 rise the prior month.
Average weekly hours held at 34.5, while average hourly earnings rose three cents to $24.09.
Economists expected private payrolls to rise 182,000, manufacturing to add 7,000, a 7.3% unemployment rate, a 0.2% rise in earnings and a 34.5 hour workweek.