The Conference Board’s US Employment Trends Index edged down in September following a larger drop in August. Hurricanes Harvey and Irma caused the slowdown, but the index is expected to pick up.

“Several components that led to the decline in the Employment Trends Index in August and September were impacted by hurricanes Harvey and Irma,” said Gad Levanon, chief economist, North America, at The Conference Board. “The Employment Trends Index is expected to pick up again, signaling further employment growth and more wage pressures in the months ahead.”

The index now stands at 132.74, down from August’s reading of 132.78, which was revised significantly downward from 134.62.

The Employment Trends Index is based on eight labor market indicators, and September’s small decline in the index was mostly the result of a large increase in the initial claims for unemployment insurance component.

Separately, the US Department of Labor on Friday reported the US lost 33,000 jobs in September but temp jobs rose by 5,900.