Consolidated Statements of Earnings - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Jun. 26, 2020	Jun. 28, 2019	Jun. 26, 2020	Jun. 28, 2019
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 3,260,057	$ 3,169,622	$ 10,047,286	$ 9,345,005
Direct cost of contracts	(2,631,031)	(2,543,488)	(8,125,554)	(7,533,511)
Gross profit	629,026	626,134	1,921,732	1,811,494
Selling, general and administrative expenses	(434,650)	(536,180)	(1,408,232)	(1,505,731)
Operating Profit	194,376	89,954	513,500	305,763
Other Income (Expense):
Interest income	1,249	3,398	3,180	7,172
Interest expense	(18,193)	(18,978)	(48,163)	(73,727)
Miscellaneous income (expense), net	126,249	19,025	(87,470)	58,211
Total other income (expense), net	109,305	3,445	(132,453)	(8,344)
Earnings from Continuing Operations Before Taxes	303,681	93,399	381,047	297,419
Income Tax (Expense) Benefit from Continuing Operations	(67,674)	1,981	(75,041)	(12,829)
Net Earnings of the Group from Continuing Operations	236,007	95,380	306,006	284,590
Net Earnings of the Group from Discontinued Operations	18,043	435,684	125,511	438,837
Net Earnings of the Group	254,050	531,064	431,517	723,427
Net Earnings Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests from Continuing Operations	(9,121)	(6,015)	(21,662)	(15,578)
Net Earnings Attributable to Jacobs from Continuing Operations	226,886	89,365	284,344	269,012
Net Earnings Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests from Discontinued Operations	0	(607)	0	(2,195)
Net Earnings Attributable to Jacobs from Discontinued Operations	18,043	435,077	125,511	436,642
Net Earnings Attributable to Jacobs	$ 244,929	$ 524,442	$ 409,855	$ 705,654
Net Earnings Per Share:
Basic Net (Loss) Earnings from Continuing Operations Per Share (in dollars per share)	$ 1.74	$ 0.65	$ 2.15	$ 1.93
Basic Net Earnings (Loss) from Discontinued Operations Per Share (in dollars per share)	0.14	3.18	0.95	3.14
Basic (Loss) Earnings Per Share (in dollars per share)	1.88	3.83	3.11	5.07
Diluted Net (Loss) Earnings from Continuing Operations Per Share (in dollars per share)	1.73	0.65	2.13	1.92
Diluted Net Earnings (Loss) from Discontinued Operations Per Share (in dollars per share)	0.14	3.15	0.94	3.11
Diluted (Loss) Earnings Per Share (in dollars per share)	$ 1.87	$ 3.80	$ 3.08	$ 5.02