U.S. job growth picked up in March, with employers adding 178,000 positions while the unemployment rate held at 4.3%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The gain follows a downwardly revised loss of 133,000 jobs in February. Revisions to prior months left total employment slightly lower than previously reported.
Job gains were concentrated in a handful of sectors. Health care added 76,000 jobs, driven largely by growth in physicians’ offices and hospitals. Construction added 26,000 jobs, while transportation and warehousing grew by 21,000, including a rise in courier and delivery roles.
Office employees review work on a laptop, reflecting steady but uneven hiring trends across sectors.
Other major industries, including manufacturing, retail and professional services, showed little change.
The unemployment rate held at 4.3%, with about 7.2 million people unemployed. Labor force participation remained at 61.9%.
Average hourly earnings rose by 9 cents, or 0.2%, to $37.38 in March, up 3.5% over the year.
The number of long-term unemployed, those out of work for 27 weeks or more, stood at 1.8 million and accounted for 25.4% of all unemployed workers. The number of people marginally attached to the labor force rose to 1.9 million, including an increase in discouraged workers.
Federal government employment declined by 18,000 jobs in March and is down by more than 350,000 since October 2024. Employment in financial activities edged down by 15,000.
The next employment report is scheduled for May 8.
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