Unemployment rate dips in September

The national unemployment rate declined to 5.9%, that's the lowest it's been since July 2008.

The September unemployment rate benefited from 248,000 new jobs. At 62.7% the labor participation rate was little changed.

Professional and business services, retail, and health care enjoyed most of the job gains, with 35,000 new positions added in retail.

Construction also enjoyed a bit of a boost, gaining 16,000 jobs overall, with 6,000 of those in residential building.

Building material and garden equipment & supplies dealers lost 21,300 employees in September.

Employment in manufacturing, wholesale trade, transportation and warehousing changed little last month.

The number of discouraged workers hit 698,000 in September, down by 154,000 year-over-year.