Employers added 254,000 jobs in September, blowing away forecasts

Employers added 254,000 jobs in September, blowing away forecasts and reversing a slowdown in hiring that had prompted the Federal Reserve to make a jumbo rate cut at its meeting last month.

Economists had forecast 140,000 new jobs, according to financial data provider FactSet.

The unemployment rate inched down to 4.1%, versus 4.2% in the prior month.