Job growth was stronger than expected in September, a sign that the U.S. economy is working despite higher interest rates, labor battles and disfunction in Washington.

Nonfarm payrolls increased by 336,000 for the month, better than the Dow Jones estimate for 170,000 and more than 100,000 higher than the previous month, the Labor Department said Friday. 

The unemployment rate was 3.8%, compared to the forecast for 3.7%

The payrolls increase was the best monthly number since January.

The strong numbers are better for the economy than the August numbers, but also signal that the economy refuses to slow down, despite the Federal Reserves efforts to get prices and hiring closer to normal levels.

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