WASHINGTON (April 3, 2015) — Nonfarm payroll employment increased by 126,000 jobs in March 2015, according to the latest figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
The unemployment rate was steady from February at 5.5 percent, the BLS said.
Professional and business services saw the strongest gains during the month, the BLS said, adding 40,000 jobs, with retail trade second (up 26,000 jobs) and health care third (up 22,000 jobs). Most major employment categories — including manufacturing, construction, wholesale trade, and transportation and warehousing — were virtually unchanged for the month.
ADP Inc., the payroll services firm that releases its own employment report, said the U.S. gained 189,000 jobs in March.
By far the largest gains — 108,000 jobs altogether — were in the small business category (1 to 49 employees), ADP said. More than half of those jobs (57,000) were created in businesses with fewer than 20 employees.
Medium-sized businesses (50 to 499 employees) added 62,000 jobs in March, while large businesses (500 employees or more), added only 19,000, ADP said.
Nearly all the jobs created in March (184,000) were in the service-providing sector as opposed to the goods-providing sector, according to ADP.
The payroll firm said 40,000 jobs were added in professional and business services; 25,000 in trade/transportation/utilities; 17,000 in construction; and 16,000 in financial activities. Manufacturing, however, lost 1,000 jobs.
“That was one wretched jobs report for manufacturing,” said Scott Paul, president of the Alliance for American Manufacturing.
“Losses in March combined with steep downward revisions in January and February have washed away the narrative of a resurgent manufacturing base,” Mr. Paul said. “The effects of a strong dollar are clear: It's a big loser for factory jobs in the United States.”
