Jobs Growth Breaks 200,000 Level In March

While consumers have plenty of worries about consumer-price inflation and the strength of the economic recovery, non-farm payroll growth hit 216,000 in March, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. It was the first month employment grew by more than 200,000 since spring of 2010. Private sector growth hit an even stronger 230,000 level.

According to the separate household survey, the number of un- and under-employed persons remained little changed at 13.5 million and 8.4 million respectively, and the unemployment rate also held at 8.8%.

Jobs growth was fairly broad-based though the bulk of the new jobs came from service sectors, including leisure and hospitality, which saw 37,000 new jobs. Goods-producing sectors, including mining and manufacturing, added 31,000 jobs.

Employment has now been positive for six consecutive months.