The Labor Department reported Friday that 254,000 jobs were added to the U.S. economy in September, exceeding projections.

In addition, the unemployment rate last month dropped slightly, by 0.1%, compared to August and is now at 4.1%, according the department's Bureau of Labor Statistics. 

The Dow Jones consensus forecast for additional non-farm jobs was 150,000, CNBC reports.

The bureau in its September report said: "Employment continued to trend up in food services and drinking places, health care, government, social assistance and construction."