US adds 311,000 jobs in February, unemployment at 3.6 percent
The US economy added jobs at a solid clip in February, likely ensuring that the Federal Reserve will...
While jobs increase not as high as in January, suggesting that surge was not a one-off.
The US economy added jobs at a solid clip in February, likely ensuring that the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates for longer, though wage inflation showed signs of cooling.
Nonfarm payrolls increased by 311,000 jobs last month, the labour department's closely watched employment report showed on Friday (Mar 10). Data for January was revised lower to show 504,000 jobs added instead of the previously reported 517,000.
Economists polled by Reuters had forecast job growth of 205,000. They said the economy needs to create 100,000 jobs per month to keep up with growth in the working-age population.
Estimates for February payrolls ranged from as low as 78,000 to as high as 325,000 jobs.
The larger-than-expected increase in payrolls suggested that January's surge in hiring was not a fluke.
