Indian Discussion Forum

The US saw an addition of 162,000 new jobs in March, the highest gain in almost three years, while the unemployment rate held steady at 9.7 per cent last month.

However, about 48,000 new jobs last month came from the government's temporary hiring for collecting census data.

"Non-farm payroll employment rose by 162,000 in March, and the unemployment rate was 9.7 per cent for the third month in a row," the US Labor Department said today.

The number of new jobs created last month are less than analysts' estimate, which pegged the same at 200,000.

Even though the national economy is expanding at a healthy rate, the employment market continues to remain shaky.

In a statement, the Labor Department said that job gains continued in temporary help services and in health care whereas employment declined in financial activities.