But the jobless rate was stuck at 9.1 percent, according to latest data from the Department of Labor.

Although the figures were boosted by the return to work of striking workers, the department also revised upwards employment data from August and July.

Last month, President Barack Obama unveiled a US$450bn (£282bn) package of spending plans aimed at creating jobs.

The White House said that despite the new jobs, the unemployment rate remained "unacceptably high".

The US government shed 34,000 jobs in September, and there were large redundancies in local government of teachers and other school employees.

Job gains were seen in construction, retail, temporary help services and health care. There was a fall in the number of jobs in manufacturing for the second straight month.

Previously, data for August had showed the economy added no new jobs, underlying fears that the US was heading back towards recession.

Mr Obama's jobs programme proposes funding huge construction projects, schools and services, while giving tax cuts to workers and small businesses to boost recruitment.

However, with Republicans having rejected a proposed tax rise on wealthier people to pay for it, Mr Obama is fighting to get the package through Congress.