U.S. payrolls rose by 178,000 in March, more than expected; unemployment at 4.3% [View all]
Source: CNBC
Published Fri, Apr 3 2026 8:30 AM EDT Updated 5 Min Ago
The U.S. labor market bounced back in March, with job creation much stronger than expected though the broader picture of a slow-growth labor market held intact.
Nonfarm payrolls rose a seasonally adjusted 178,000 during the month, a reversal from the 133,000 decline in February and better than the Dow Jones consensus estimate for 59,000, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Friday. February’s number was revised down by 41,000 while January was revised up by 34,000 to 160,000, putting the three-month average around 68,000.
The unemployment rate edged lower to 4.3%, though that was largely from a sharp reduction in the labor force.
“The bottom line is March was somewhat encouraging, but it’s been a rocky year for the labor market with almost no hiring since last April,” said Heather Long, chief economist at Navy Federal Credit Union. “The March data will keep the Federal Reserve on hold, but no one is declaring victory yet. It’s likely to be a tough spring for job seekers.”
Read more: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/04/03/jobs-report-march-2026-.html
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8:31 AM · Apr 3, 2026
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Article updated.
Previous article -
The U.S. labor market bounced back in March, with job creation much stronger than expected though the broader picture of a slow-growth labor market held intact.
Nonfarm payrolls rose a seasonally adjusted 178,000 during the month, a reversal from the 133,000 decline in February and better than the Dow Jones consensus estimate for 59,000, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Friday. February's number was revised down by 41,000 while January was revised up by 34,000 to 160,000, putting the three-month average around 68,000.
With job creation higher, the unemployment rate edged lower to 4.3%.
As has been the case, health care was responsible for much of the growth, with the sector adding 76,000. A strike at health-care provider Kaiser Permanente in February took 31,000 off that month's total and has since been settled.
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Original article -
Nonfarm payrolls were expected to increase by 59,000 in March, with the unemployment rate holding at 4.4%, according to the Dow Jones consensus estimate.
This is breaking news. Please refresh for updates.
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