OKLAHOMA CITY (OBV) — U.S. payrolls increased by 178,000 in March while the national unemployment rate held essentially steady at 4.3%, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ monthly employment report released Friday. Job gains were concentrated in health care, construction, and transportation and warehousing, while federal government employment continued to decline.
Health care led March hiring, adding 76,000 jobs, including a rebound in ambulatory services tied in part to workers returning from a strike. Construction added 26,000, and transportation and warehousing added 21,000, driven largely by gains in couriers and messengers. Federal government payrolls fell by 18,000 for the month.
On wages, average hourly earnings for private-sector workers rose 0.2% in March to $37.38, up 3.5% over the year. The average workweek edged down to 34.2 hours.
BLS also revised prior months: January payroll gains were revised up to +160,000, while February was revised down to -133,000, leaving January and February combined 7,000 lower than previously reported. The next employment report, covering April data, is scheduled for May 8.
