The nation's unemployment rate ticked down in September to 7.2 percent, reaching a five-year low. However, only 148,000 jobs were added to the economy last month, which, according to analysts, indicates a slow down in the job market leading up to the 16-day government shutdown.

The average number of jobs created a month fell from 182,000 from April to June to 143,000 from July through September.

The September jobs report was released more than two weeks late due to the government shutdown.