U.S. job growth in September powered past most expectations by a wide margin, with total nonfarm payroll employment increasing by 254,000. That number, from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, showed the biggest gains were in food services and drinking places (restaurants and bars), which created 69,000 jobs in September, well above the average monthly gain of 14,000 over the prior 12 months.
Other sectors seeing an uptick were health care, government, social assistance and construction. The retail sector’s employment was flat for the period. Overall, the total nonfarm payroll employment increase in September was higher than the average monthly gain of 203,000 over the prior 12 months.
In its review of the numbers, J.P. Morgan Wealth Management said that the reported stat for September blew past expectations of 142,500 for the period. “The July and August jobs reports were also revised higher, up 55,000 and 17,000, respectively,” the report states. “This upside surprise defies fears that the labor market is breaking.”
Overall, the September jobs report “underscores our strategists’ calls for a soft economic landing and a gradual pace of Federal Reserve rate cuts from here,” J.P. Morgan noted.
Ready to Relocate? Wilkerson Makes Your Move Seamless
When Brockhaus Jewelry decided to leave their longtime West Main Street storefront for a standalone building elsewhere in Norman, Oklahoma, owners John Brockhaus and Brad Shipman faced a familiar challenge: how to efficiently reduce inventory before the big move. Their solution? Partnering with liquidation specialists Wilkerson for a second time.
"We'd already experienced Wilkerson's professionalism during a previous sale," Shipman recalls. "But their approach to our relocation event truly impressed us. They strategically prioritized our existing pieces while tactfully introducing complementary merchandise as inventory levels decreased." The carefully orchestrated sale didn't just meet targets—it shattered them.
Asked if they'd endorse Wilkerson to industry colleagues planning similar transitions—whether relocating, retiring, or refreshing their space—both partners were emphatic in their approval. "The entire process was remarkably straightforward," Shipman notes. "Wilkerson delivered a well-structured program, paired us with a knowledgeable advisor, and managed every detail flawlessly from concept to completion."
