The U.S. economy had a net gain of 103,000 jobs in September, but that was not enough to cut the unemployment rate from 9.1 percent.
Friday's report from the Labor Department said the job gains came largely in the private sector, particularly in health care.
The monthly job gains were stronger than most economists had predicted and include 45,000 employees returning to work after a strike at telecommunications giant Verizon in August.
Friday's report from the Labor Department says 14 million Americans are out of work. Four out of 10 of the unemployed have been off the job for six months or more.