The Associated Press recently reported that U.S. employers added a surprising 228,000 jobs last month as the American labor market continues to show resilience.
The hiring numbers were up from 117,000 in February and nearly doubled the 130,000 that economists expected. Labor Department revisions shaved 48,000 jobs off January and February payrolls.
Workers’ average hourly earnings rose 0.3% from February. Compared to a year earlier, hourly pay was up 3.8%, a bit lower than the 4% that had been forecast and nearing the 3.5% year-over-year gains that are seen as consistent with the Federal Reserve’s 2% annual inflation target.
Healthcare companies added almost 54,000 jobs and restaurants and bars nearly 30,000 as the job market bounced back from bitter winter weather in January and February. See more findings.