A resurgence of hiring added a quarter-million jobs last month across the country and the unemployment rate dropped to 4.1%, according to new government data released Friday.

The addition of 254,000 jobs in September was well above the average 203,000 monthly gains over the past year. It blew past analysts’ expectations and, after a slowing of job growth over the summer, suggests the economy has more legs than previously thought.

The strong hiring, plus a pickup in wage gains to a 4% annual pace — notably faster than the rate of inflation — comes with just a month left before the national election in which the economy has been a top concern for voters. Employers in various industries added to their payrolls, led by eating and drinking businesses, healthcare and government…

Source: U.S. job growth outperforms expectations as hiring resurges – Los Angeles Times