U.S. Payrolls Increased by 115,000, Unemployment Holds at 4.3%

In March, U.S. nonfarm payrolls increased by 115,000, exceeding the Dow Jones forecast of 55,000 but down from 185,000 in February. The unemployment rate remained steady at 4.3%. Average hourly earnings rose by 0.2% monthly and 3.6% annually, falling short of expectations of 0.3% and 3.8%. Additionally, the broader measure of unemployment, including underemployed workers, increased to 8.2%, while the labor force participation rate dropped to 61.8%, the lowest since October 2021. These figures indicate a stable labor market, although concerns about potential slowdowns persist.