ABJ - October 8 - Nonfarm payroll employment edged up by 103,000 in September, while the unemployment rate held at 9.1 per cent, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The increase in employment partially reflected the return to payrolls of about 45,000 telecommunications workers who had been on strike in August. In September, job gains occurred in professional and business services, health care, and construction. Government employment continued to trend down.

The number of unemployed persons, at 14 million, was essentially unchanged in September, and the unemployment rate was 9.1 per cent. Since April, the rate has held in a narrow range from nine to 9.2 per cent. The number of long-term unemployed (those jobless for 27-plus weeks) was 6.2 million in September. These individuals accounted for 44.6 per cent of the unemployed.

The number of persons employed part-time for economic reasons rose to 9.3 million in September. These individuals work part-time as hours had been reduced or because these workers were unable to find full-time employment.

Since April, payroll employment has increased by an average of 72,000 per month, compared with an average of 161,000 for the prior seven months.