September job gains affirm that the Fed has a long way to go in inflation fight

September’s jobs report provided both assurance that the jobs market remains strong and that the Federal Reserve will have to do more to slow it down.

The 263,000 gain in nonfarm payrolls was just below analyst expectations and the slowest monthly gain in nearly a year and a half.

But a surprising drop in the unemployment rate and another boost in worker wages sent a clear message to markets that more giant interest rate hikes are on the way.

“Low unemployment used to feel so good. Everybody who seems to want a job is getting a job,” said Ron Hetrick,…