The jobs created in September obscure the fact that thousands were lost permanently and millions of people have stopped looking for work.

The diffusion index, a measure of the breadth of job gains across industries, jumped for the second month in a row.

More sectors of the economy gained jobs than lost jobs in May, Labor Department data shows.

Another 2.2 million sought aid under a new program for self-employed, contractor and gig workers.

The BLS monthly jobs report is based on surveys conducted in mid-March, before the recent wave of layoffs and furloughs.

In December, wage gains slowed from earlier in 2019, with average hourly earnings up 2.9% year over year.

The U.S.-China trade war has slowed hiring, and average hourly wages have slipped.

Analysts say that under the new acting secretary, Patrick Pizella, deregulation is likely to quicken.

The big question: Is the trade war affecting hiring?

But it’s too soon to say the 10-year economic expansion has run its course.