The US economy added 103,000 jobs in September, ahead of many economists²' expectations.

美国九月份新增工作岗位10.3万，超出许多经济学家的预期。

But the jobless rate was stuck at 9.1%, according to latest data from the Department of Labor³.

Although the figures were boosted by the return to work of striking workers, the department also revised upwards⁴ employment data from August and July.

Last month, President Barack Obama unveiled a $450bn (£282bn) package of spending plans aimed at creating jobs.

The White House said that despite the new jobs, the unemployment rate remained "unacceptably high".

"Clearly, we need faster economic growth to put Americans back to work. Today's report underscores the president's call for Congress to pass the American Jobs Act to put more money in the pockets of working and middle class families," it said in its regular blog.

The private sector⁵ accounted for all the job gains, and the figures were boosted by the return of 45,000 Verizon telecoms workers who had been on strike in August.

Excluding those workers, the number of jobs created was still at a higher-than-predicted 58,000.

The aggregate⁶ weekly hours being worked also rose, the Labor Department said.

While the jobs report was better than feared, Tom Porcelli, chief US economist¹ at RBC Capital Markets, said it did not suggest the economy was gaining momentum⁷.

"It moves you away from the ledge," he said.

The report gave a lift to Wall Street, with the three main share indexes rising in early trading. However, a downgrade of Spanish and Italian government debt by ratings agency Fitch undermined investor⁸ confidence, and the main Dow Jones index closed down 20 points at 11,103.