Raising eyebrows does not mean the numbers are cooked. For those not familiar with the difference between the payrolls data and the labour force survey data here is a brief explanation. The unemployment rate decreased to 7.8 percent in September, and total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 114,000 ... However, based on their Household Survey data, the BLS reported that: Total employment rose by 873,000 in September, following 3 months of little change. The establishment survey (payrolls) data is subject to substantial revisions. The BLS report that the "change in total nonfarm payroll employment for July was revised from +141,000 to +181,000, and the change for August was revised from +96,000 to +142,000." The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has two monthly surveys that measure employment levels and trends: the Current Population Survey (CPS), also known as the household survey, and the Current Employment Statistics (CES) survey, also known as the payroll or establishment survey. Employment estimates from both the household and payroll surveys are published in the Employment Situation news release each month. These estimates differ because the surveys have distinct definitions of employment and distinct survey and estimation methods. The document contains the following Table which catalogues the differences in the two employment surveys. The BLS say that: Both the payroll and household surveys are needed for a complete picture of the labor market. The payroll survey provides a highly reliable gauge of monthly change in nonfarm payroll employment. The household survey provides a broader picture of employment