U.S. unemployment rate dips under 6%

The national unemployment rate dropped two-tenths of a point to 5.9 percent in September, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics announced this morning.

Nonfarm payroll employment across the nation rose by 248,000 jobs last month, with increases recorded in the professional and business services, retail trade and health care industries, according to a news release.

Professional and business services employers added 81,000 jobs last month, led by a 34,000-position increase in employment services.

Retailers added 35,000 positions, with food and beverage stores responsible for 20,000 jobs. According to the release, retail trade increases reflected a return of workers who had been off payrolls due to employment disruptions at a grocery store chain in New England.

In the health care sector, employers hired 23,000 last month, in line with the 12-month average of 20,000 jobs per month.

During September, the number of unemployed in the nation decreased by 329,000 to 9.3 million. Some 7.1 million people were employed part time for economic reasons, and 2.2 million people were marginally attached to the workforce - not currently employed but available and looking for work, according to the release.