Federal jobs numbers will not be released if the government shuts down at midnight Wednesday, the U.S. Department of Labor said. It's a much-anticipated report.

The September jobs report is expected to show a payroll gain of 45,000, up from 22,000 in the prior month, with the unemployment rate holding steady at 4.3%.

The department is preparing for what would amount to a news and data blackout should the government suspend operations.