The labour market is powering ahead in the United States as more workers seek jobs. Employers added 431,000 jobs in March and the jobless rate fell to 3.6%. While strong, hiring was lower than February when employers hired an upwardly revised 750,000 people. For March, the number of unemployed persons decreased by 318,000 to six million.
Industries with the most gains included leisure and hospitality, professional and business services, retail trade, and manufacturing.
Non-farm payroll employment data, including the jobless rate, is compiled and released monthly by the U.S. Labor Department, which surveys private and government entities throughout the U.S. about their payrolls.
Employment data is closely watched by the Federal Reserve as it determines its path to control inflation.