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U.S. Employers Add 275,000 Jobs in Another Strong Month

Economists are trying to gauge whether forecasts of a slowing labor market were mistaken or just premature. For now, gains are consistent and strong.

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If the economy is slowing down, nobody told the labor market.

Employers added 275,000 jobs in February, the Labor Department reported Friday, in another month that exceeded expectations even as the unemployment rate rose.

It was the third straight month of seasonally adjusted gains above 200,000, and the 38th consecutive month of growth — fresh evidence that four years after going into pandemic shutdowns, America’s jobs engine still has plenty of steam.

“We’ve been expecting a slowdown in the labor market, a more material loosening in conditions, but we’re just not seeing that,” said Rubeela Farooqi, chief economist at High Frequency Economics.

Previously reported figures for December and January were revised downward by a total of 167,000, reflecting the higher degree of statistical volatility in the winter months. That does not disrupt a picture of consistent, robust increases.

At the same time, the unemployment rate, based on a survey of households rather than businesses, increased to a two-year high of 3.9 percent. The increase from 3.7 percent in January was driven by people losing or leaving jobs as well as those entering the labor force to look for work.

A more expansive measure of slack labor market conditions, which includes people working part time who would rather work full time, has been steadily rising and now stands at 7.3 percent.

Wage growth slowed slightly in February

Year-over-year percentage change in earnings vs. inflation

+8%

+6

AVG. HOURLY

EARNINGS

+4.3%

in Feb.

+4

CONSUMER

PRICE INDEX

+3.1%

in Jan.

+2

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

+8%

+6

AVG. HOURLY

EARNINGS

+4.3%

in Feb.

+4

CONSUMER

PRICE INDEX

+3.1%

in Jan.

+2

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

Note: Earnings data is seasonally adjusted.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

By Ella Koeze

The manufacturing sector lost jobs last month

Change in jobs in February 2024, by sector

+85,000 jobs

Education and health

Leisure and

hospitality

+58,000

+52,000

Government

+23,000

Construction

+18,700

Retail

Business

services

+9,000

Manufacturing

–4,000

+85,000 jobs

Education and health

+58,000

Leisure and hospitality

+52,000

Government

Construction

+23,000

+18,700

Retail

+9,000

Business services

Manufacturing

–4,000

Note: Data is seasonally adjusted.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

By Ella Koeze

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