Employment and unemployment developments, September 2006.

Nonfarm payroll employment held steady (+51,000), and the unemployment rate (4.6 percent) was essentially unchanged in September. Job growth continued in health care and financial activities, while employment declined in manufacturing. Employment was little changed in other major industry sectors.

Unemployment

The number of unemployed persons (6.9 million) and the unemployment rate (4.6 percent) were essentially unchanged in September. Thus far in 2006, the jobless rate has ranged from 4.6 to 4.8 percent.

Over the month, the unemployment rates for