Employers in the country added 228,000 jobs in March, beating expectations and rebounding from February’s revised 117,000 gain, according to Labor Department data.
Healthcare led with 54,000 new jobs, followed by gains in social assistance, retail and transportation. Despite this strength, the unemployment rate rose slightly to 4.2% from 4.1% in February as more people entered the workforce.
Average hourly wages rose 0.3% to $36, outpacing inflation. However, federal jobs dropped by 4,000, continuing the Trump administration’s push to shrink government payrolls.
Economists warn that tariffs and workforce cuts could slow hiring later this year.
White-collar hiring remains weak, and many job seekers struggle to find stable roles. Still, steady job growth and low layoffs suggest the labor market remains resilient for now.