U.S. job growth grew at the slowest pace in almost a year in September, as American employers added just 51,000 jobs, the Labor Department reported Friday. Meanwhile, the U.S. government also reported that the national unemployment rate fell to 4.6 percent, despite the slower job growth rate. Stock markets opened down as investors struggled to understand the mixed news of the nation s labor market. Analysts were expecting 120,000 new payroll jobs, and the latest figures came as a sign that the overall economy has moved into a slower phase of growth. The Labor Department said most job cuts came at factories, retailers and government offices, while new job in construction, education and health services made up the difference. The Federal Reserve's next meeting on interest rates is scheduled for October 24. The latest data is expected to push the U.S. central bank to leave interest rates at 5.25 percent for the third month in a row.
