Gallup US Job Creation Index Stays Steady At High Level

Gallup's U.S. Job Creation Index registered plus 32 in September, the fifth consecutive month it has been at this level and the highest in Gallup's seven-year trend. Net hiring in the private sector, where the large majority of U.S. employees work, was plus 33 for the month of September, the same it has been for five of the past six months. Government hiring netted plus 25 in September -- similar to scores recorded since April. The "hiring" and "letting people go" percentages have been steady for the last several months.

Regionally, net hiring was lowest in the East, at plus 29. The region generally has ranked lowest in workers' perceptions of hiring since 2013. Meanwhile, the Midwest had the highest net hiring score in September, at plus 34. This is down slightly from plus 36 in August, which matched the highest score any region has received since Gallup began tracking job creation. Net hiring in the South registered plus 32, while it was plus 33 in the West.

In September, 43 percent of workers said their employer was hiring workers and expanding the size of its workforce, and 11 percent said their employer was letting people go and reducing the size of its workforce, resulting in the index score of plus 32.