WASHINGTON, Oct. 5 (Xinhua) -- U.S. unemployment rate fell to 3.7 percent in September after standing at 3.9 percent for two months, hitting the lowest level since December 1969, the Labor Department reported on Friday.
According to the department, total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 134,000 and job gains mainly occurred in professional and business services, health care, transportation and warehousing.
Average hourly earnings of private-sector workers rose 2.8 percent to 27.24 dollars in September from a year ago, said the department.
After upward revisions for nonfarm payroll employment in July and August, monthly job gains have averaged 190,000 over the past three months.
Friday's job report confirmed a strengthening job market. Economists and market participants are widely expecting that the Federal Reserve would raise rates again at its next policy meeting in December.
The Fed last month raised its benchmark interest rate for the third time this year. Fed policy makers also indicated another rate hike in December, three more in 2019 and probably one more in 2020.
