Economy gains 228,000 jobs, but the unemployment rate climbs to 4.2 %
U.S. Employment Report
The nonfarm payrolls grew 228,000 in March, as faster hiring puts more money in the hands of consumers, what usually leads to an increase in spending,
Employment outside the farm sector grew by 228,000 workers in March and the unemployment rate ticked higher to 4.2 %, from 4.1 %, on the seasonally adjusted basis, reported by the Labor Department.
As the year goes on, companies have been hiring at a faster clip as Americans increase spending and consumer confidence rises, economists have seen a steady improvement in the jobs market and recruiting activity.
Current report confirms positive trends in the nonfarm payrolls. Total number of employed persons in the U.S. rose by 0.12 % to 163,51 millions, the health care and social assistance sectors hired 77,800 employees , the temporary help services has lost -6,400 jobs.
At March 2025 Total number of unemployed persons
grew to 7.08 millions, an increase of 31.00
thousands or 0.44 % from Feb. 2025, Unemployment rate
increased to 4.20 %, from 4.10% in previous month.
In March 228,000 nonfarm payrolls were created.
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Labor force
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Average workweek grew in March by 0.29 % to 34.20 hours, an increase of $0.10 from 34.10 in February on the seasonally adjusted basis, the biggest increases occurred in construction up to 39.30 hours, the hours worked in durable goods manufacturers fell the most to 40.50 hours, reported by the Labor Department.
With modest increase in hourly earnings and growth in hours worked, average weekly earnings increased in the private sector to $1,231.20 from $1,225.21 in the previous month.
The number of employed persons
increased to 163.51 millions by 201.00 thousands or 0.12 % in March 2025.
Total Labor force
increased to 170.59 millions.
Average weekly earnings where $1,231.20 dollars, in March 2025
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Average Weekly Hours of Production
Details of the March report just added to evidence of a sharp deterioration in labor conditions. Unemployment advanced to 7.08 million, an increase of 31,000 from 7.05 in February by 0.44 % on the seasonally adjusted basis.
The number of people entered the labor force in March matched the natural growth rate of U.S. poulation, lifting the percentage of civilians who have or want a job up to 62.50 % from 62.40 %.
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The March employment report showed a slight increase in workers' hourly wages by 0.19 % to $36.00, an increase of $0.07 from $35.93 in February on the seasonally adjusted basis, the durable goods manufacturers grew hourly earnings at the highest pace to $37.38, hourly earnings at other service sector fell the most to $32.39, reported by the U.S. Labor Department.
Improving wages are one of the major contributors to the fast rate of hiring since consumption accounts for as much as 70% of U.S. growth. When people have more to spend, business have enough demand for their goods and services to hire more workers.
Construction Industry
grew to 39.30 hours per week, from Feb. 2025; Manufacturing Industry
rose to 40.20 hours per week, Durable goods Industry
fell to 40.50 hours per week, Nondurable goods Industry
remained unchanged.
Average Weekly Hours of Production for private serviceproviding
industry
remained unchanged from Feb. 2025; Trade, transportation & utilities Industry
remained unchanged from Feb. 2025 .
Financial activities Industry Average Weekly Hours of Production
moved up to 37.70 hours per week, from Feb. 2025.
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| |
Information Industry Average Weekly Hours of Production
went up to 37.20 hours per week, from Feb. 2025; Professional & business services Industry
increased to 36.40 hours per week, from Feb. 2025;
Education & health services Industry
fell to 32.70 hours per week, from Feb. 2025; Leisure & hospitality Industry
advanced to 25.50 hours per week, from Feb. 2025; Other services Industry
remained unchanged from Feb. 2025.
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Employment
Situation
( in millions or %) |
March 2025
prel. |
Feb. 2025
prel. |
Jan. 2025
prel. |
Dec. 2024
prel. |
Nov. 2024
prel. |
Oct. 2024
prel. |
| Unemployment rate |
|
4.2 % |
4.1 % |
4 % |
4.1 % |
4.1 % |
4.1 % |
| Number of unemployed persons |
|
7.083 |
7.052 |
6.849 |
6.886 |
6.886 |
6.984 |
| Number of Employed persons |
|
163.508 |
163.307 |
163.895 |
161.661 |
161.661 |
161.496 |
| Employment/population ratio |
|
59.9 % |
59.9 % |
60.1 % |
60 % |
60 % |
60 % |
| Civilian labor force |
|
170.591 |
170.359 |
170.744 |
168.547 |
168.547 |
168.479 |
| Participation rate |
|
62.5 % |
62.4 % |
62.6 % |
62.5 % |
62.5 % |
62.6 % |
| Civilian noninstitutional
population |
|
273.023 |
272.847 |
272.685 |
269.638 |
269.638 |
269.289 |
| Persons who currently want a job outside CLF |
|
- |
- |
- |
5.505 |
5.505 |
5.666 |
EMPLOYMENT BY SELECTED INDUSTRY
(Over-the-month change, in thousands) |
|
March 2025
prel. |
Feb. 2025
prel. |
Jan. 2025
prel. |
Dec. 2024
prel. |
Nov. 2024
prel. |
Oct. 2024
prel. |
| Nonfarm Payrolls |
|
+228.0 |
+151.0 |
+143.0 |
+256.0 |
+256.0 |
+12.0 |
| Total Private Payrolls |
|
+209.0 |
+140.0 |
+111.0 |
+223.0 |
+223.0 |
-28.0 |
| Goods-producing Payrolls |
|
+12.0 |
+34.0 |
- |
-8.0 |
-8.0 |
-37.0 |
| Mining & logging |
|
-2.0 |
+5.0 |
-7.0 |
-3.0 |
-3.0 |
+1.0 |
| Construction |
|
+13.0 |
+19.0 |
+4.0 |
+8.0 |
+8.0 |
+8.0 |
| Manufacturing Payrolls |
|
+2.9 |
+2.9 |
+2.8 |
-13.0 |
-13.0 |
-46.0 |
| Durable goods |
|
-3.0 |
+11.0 |
-3.0 |
-16.0 |
-16.0 |
-47.0 |
| Motor vehicles and parts |
|
-0.2 |
+8.9 |
-9.7 |
-4.1 |
-4.1 |
-6.0 |
| Nondurable goods |
|
+4.0 |
-1.0 |
+6.0 |
+3.0 |
+3.0 |
+1.0 |
| Private service-providing Payrolls |
|
+197.0 |
+106.0 |
+111.0 |
+231.0 |
+231.0 |
+9.0 |
| Wholesale trade |
|
-2.0 |
+8.8 |
+2.0 |
-3.5 |
-3.5 |
+10.4 |
| Retail trade |
|
+23.7 |
-6.3 |
+34.3 |
+43.4 |
+43.4 |
-6.4 |
| Transportation and warehousing |
|
+22.9 |
+17.8 |
+1.1 |
+9.6 |
+9.6 |
-3.7 |
| Information |
|
-2.0 |
+5.0 |
+2.0 |
+10.0 |
+10.0 |
+3.0 |
| Financial activities |
|
+9.0 |
+21.0 |
+7.0 |
+13.0 |
+13.0 |
- |
| Professional and business services |
|
+3.0 |
-2.0 |
-11.0 |
+28.0 |
+28.0 |
-47.0 |
| Temporary help services |
|
-6.4 |
-12.3 |
-12.4 |
+5.3 |
+5.3 |
-48.5 |
| Education and health services |
|
+77.0 |
+73.0 |
+61.0 |
+80.0 |
+80.0 |
+57.0 |
| Health care and social assistance |
|
+77.8 |
+63.1 |
+66.0 |
+69.5 |
+69.5 |
+51.3 |
| Leisure and hospitality |
|
+43.0 |
-16.0 |
-3.0 |
+43.0 |
+43.0 |
-4.0 |
| Other services |
|
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
| Government Payrolls |
|
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Civilian labor force
is the sum of employed and unemployed persons. |
|
|
Unemployment Rate
is the number unemployed as a percent of the labor force. |
|
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Labor force participation rate
is the
labor force as a percent of the population. |
|
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Employment-population ratio
is the employed as a percent of the population. |
| Average weekly hours of production by Industry |
March 2025
prel. |
Feb. 2025
prel. |
Jan. 2025
prel. |
Dec. 2024
prel. |
Nov. 2024
prel. |
Oct. 2024
prel. |
| Total private |
|
34.20 |
34.10 |
34.10 |
34.30 |
34.30 |
34.30 |
| Goods producing |
|
40.00 |
39.70 |
39.60 |
39.70 |
39.70 |
39.70 |
| Natural resources &
mining |
|
43.90 |
43.80 |
43.70 |
44.50 |
44.50 |
44.90 |
| Construction |
|
39.30 |
38.60 |
38.70 |
38.80 |
38.80 |
39.00 |
| Manufacturing |
|
40.20 |
40.10 |
40.00 |
40.00 |
40.00 |
39.90 |
| Overtime hours |
|
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
| Durable goods |
|
40.50 |
49.50 |
30.80 |
36.30 |
36.30 |
34.30 |
| Nondurable goods |
|
39.50 |
39.50 |
39.20 |
39.40 |
39.40 |
39.20 |
| Private serviceproviding |
|
33.10 |
33.10 |
33.00 |
33.20 |
33.20 |
33.20 |
| Trade, transportation
& utilities |
|
33.90 |
33.90 |
33.70 |
34.00 |
34.00 |
34.00 |
| Wholesale trade |
|
39.10 |
39.20 |
39.20 |
39.10 |
39.10 |
39.20 |
| Retail trade |
|
29.60 |
29.60 |
29.40 |
29.90 |
29.90 |
29.90 |
| Transportation & warehousing |
|
38.30 |
38.10 |
37.80 |
38.20 |
38.20 |
37.90 |
| Utilities |
|
42.20 |
42.10 |
42.00 |
42.10 |
42.10 |
42.80 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Information |
|
37.20 |
37.00 |
36.50 |
36.80 |
36.80 |
36.60 |
| Financial activities |
|
37.70 |
37.60 |
37.30 |
37.60 |
37.60 |
37.50 |
| Professional & business
services |
|
36.40 |
36.20 |
36.20 |
36.30 |
36.30 |
36.30 |
| Education & health
services |
|
32.70 |
32.80 |
32.80 |
33.00 |
33.00 |
33.10 |
| Leisure & hospitality |
|
25.50 |
25.40 |
25.30 |
25.60 |
25.60 |
25.50 |
| Other services |
|
31.90 |
31.90 |
32.10 |
32.20 |
32.20 |
32.30 |
| Average hourly earnings ($) |
March 2025
prel. |
Feb. 2025
prel. |
Jan. 2025
prel. |
Dec. 2024
prel. |
Nov. 2024
prel. |
Oct. 2024
prel. |
| Total private |
|
36.00 |
35.93 |
35.87 |
35.69 |
35.69 |
35.46 |
| Goods producing |
|
36.86 |
36.60 |
36.47 |
36.39 |
36.39 |
36.21 |
| Natural resources &
mining |
|
40.33 |
40.25 |
40.19 |
39.71 |
39.71 |
39.98 |
| Construction |
|
39.24 |
39.12 |
39.07 |
38.95 |
38.95 |
38.72 |
| Manufacturing |
|
35.16 |
34.83 |
34.64 |
34.60 |
34.60 |
34.42 |
| Overtime hours |
|
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
| Durable goods |
|
37.38 |
36.86 |
36.74 |
36.66 |
36.66 |
36.43 |
| Nondurable goods |
|
31.42 |
31.43 |
31.11 |
31.08 |
31.08 |
30.97 |
| Private serviceproviding |
|
35.81 |
35.78 |
35.73 |
35.53 |
35.53 |
35.29 |
| Trade, transportation
& utilities |
|
30.63 |
30.55 |
30.51 |
30.36 |
30.36 |
30.26 |
| Wholesale trade |
|
38.24 |
38.19 |
38.06 |
38.08 |
38.08 |
37.94 |
| Retail trade |
|
25.18 |
25.03 |
24.98 |
24.92 |
24.92 |
24.76 |
| Transportation & warehousing |
|
31.19 |
31.14 |
31.13 |
30.90 |
30.90 |
30.90 |
| Utilities |
|
51.87 |
52.22 |
52.39 |
52.22 |
52.22 |
51.96 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Information |
|
51.49 |
51.47 |
51.71 |
51.31 |
51.31 |
51.19 |
| Financial activities |
|
46.94 |
46.84 |
46.82 |
46.35 |
46.35 |
46.10 |
| Professional & business
services |
|
43.66 |
43.60 |
43.51 |
43.40 |
43.40 |
43.01 |
| Education & health
services |
|
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
| Leisure & hospitality |
|
22.75 |
22.55 |
22.48 |
22.44 |
22.44 |
22.23 |
| Other services |
|
32.39 |
32.71 |
32.64 |
31.97 |
31.97 |
31.90 |
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