INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
economy added 228,000 jobs in March, beating forecasts and signaling continued resilience in the labor market, according to the U.S
Bureau of Labor Statistics.This strong performance exceeded the consensus estimate of 140,000 jobs and marked a significant jump from the
revised February figure of 117,000
Healthcare led job creation, adding 54,000 positions.Social assistance contributed 24,000 jobs, while transportation and warehousing added
Retail trade also expanded, partly due to workers returning after a strike.Construction and manufacturing saw modest gains, but federal
government employment declined by 4,000 as workforce reduction efforts continued
The unemployment rate edged up to 4.2% from 4.1% in February, mainly because more people entered the labor force.The labor force
participation rate increased slightly to 62.5%
Unemployment remained low across key sectors, with rates at 1.8% for hospitals, 1.3% for utilities, and 6.4% for construction
For college-educated adults aged 25 and older, unemployment stood at 2.6%.U.S
Economy Surpasses Expectations with 228,000 New Jobs in March
(Photo Internet reproduction)Despite the strong headline numbers, the Bureau revised down job gains for January and February by a combined
48,000, reflecting a more tempered trend over the first quarter.Resilience Amid Economic UncertaintyOver the past year, employment growth in
construction and manufacturing has remained under 2%, indicating persistent caution among employers
Many businesses continue to delay new hiring and investments until they have more clarity on trade policy and economic direction.Layoffs
surged 60% in March, driven mostly by federal government cuts under the Department of Government Efficiency
However, these layoffs were concentrated in the public sector and did not spill over into the broader economy.Retail also saw increased
layoffs, but the sector expects sales growth to remain steady for the year
While the job market shows strength, uncertainty remains
Ongoing tariff disputes and regulatory changes could affect future hiring.Still, the March report confirms that the U.S
labor market remains robust, with job growth outpacing expectations and unemployment holding near historic lows, even as businesses navigate
a complex economic landscape
All data are sourced from the U.S
Bureau of Labor Statistics.
