Jobs make March comeback
The U.S. economy added 196,000 jobs in March as unemployment held steady at 3.8%, the Department of Labor reported.
The latest report marked a surge from February’s revised figures of just 33,000 jobs added.
Employment in retail was flat in March while construction rose slightly with 16,000 new jobs last month. In the past 12 months, construction jobs have increased by 246,000, however. Manufacturing was also nearly flat, down 6,000 jobs.
Healthcare demonstrated some of the biggest gains with 49,000 jobs in March and 398,000 over the past 12 months.
The average workweek for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls increased by 0.1 hour to 34.5 hours in March, offsetting a decline of 0.1 hour in February. In manufacturing, the average workweek was unchanged in March at 40.7 hours, while overtime decreased by 0.1 hour to 3.4 hours.
Average hourly earnings for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls rose by 4 cents to $27.70, following a 10-cent gain in February. Over the past 12 months, average hourly earnings have increased by 3.2%.
Average hourly earnings of private-sector production and nonsupervisory employees increased by 6 cents to $23.24 in March.
The latest report marked a surge from February’s revised figures of just 33,000 jobs added.
Employment in retail was flat in March while construction rose slightly with 16,000 new jobs last month. In the past 12 months, construction jobs have increased by 246,000, however. Manufacturing was also nearly flat, down 6,000 jobs.
Healthcare demonstrated some of the biggest gains with 49,000 jobs in March and 398,000 over the past 12 months.
The average workweek for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls increased by 0.1 hour to 34.5 hours in March, offsetting a decline of 0.1 hour in February. In manufacturing, the average workweek was unchanged in March at 40.7 hours, while overtime decreased by 0.1 hour to 3.4 hours.
Average hourly earnings for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls rose by 4 cents to $27.70, following a 10-cent gain in February. Over the past 12 months, average hourly earnings have increased by 3.2%.
Average hourly earnings of private-sector production and nonsupervisory employees increased by 6 cents to $23.24 in March.