Economics
U.S. Job Growth Surges Past Estimates; Unemployment Dips to 6.2%
- Employers added 379,000 jobs, reflecting rebound in leisure
- Employment in food service industry jumps by 286,000
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U.S. employers added more jobs than forecast in February and the unemployment rate declined, suggesting the labor market is clawing its way forward again following several disappointing months.
Payrolls increased 379,000 after an upwardly revised 166,000 January increase, according to a Labor Department report Friday. Economists in a Bloomberg survey projected a 200,000 February gain. The unemployment rate dropped to 6.2%.