WASHINGTON (March 7, 2014) — U.S. nonfarm employment rose by 175,000 jobs in February, slightly more than the 149,000 originally projected, according to the latest figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
However, the unemployment rate inched up to 6.7 percent in February from 6.6 percent the previous month, the BLS said. The rate increased because more people were looking for work in February than in January, according to the agency.
The biggest jobs increase in February was 79,000 in professional and business services, including 34,000 in temporary help and 16,000 in bookkeeping, the BLS said.
Wholesale trade added 16,000 jobs, and construction added 15,000, according to the February report. Manufacturing, transportation and warehousing added little, while retail trade lost 4,000 jobs.
A number of experts expected the job numbers to be lower due to affects of bad winter weather.