The U.S. added 119,000 jobs in September, but there are signs of a weaker labor market

The September jobs report offered a crucial snapshot of the state of the U.S. labor market at a time of growing uncertainty.

The U.S. added 119,000 jobs in September, a stronger than expected figure and a sign that the economy was adding jobs at a healthy clip prior to government shutdown.

But the details of the report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics paint a more mixed picture, of a labor market that has recently begun to look more wobbly amid high-profile layoff announcements from a host of blue-chip companies.

September's employment gains were concentrated in health care, food and drinking establishments, and social assistance. Manufacturing shed 6,000 jobs, continuing a trend in a sector the Trump administration has touted as a key target of its economic policies. Transportation and warehousing also saw job losses totaling 25,300.

The unemployment rate climbed from 4.3% to 4.4% in September, though the pick up was due in part to an increase in the labor force, which the BLS said gained 450,000 new potential workers.

The pace of wage growth slowed.