U.S. March Non-Farm Payrolls Increase by 178k, Far Exceeding Expectations

SighingCashier · 2026-04-03T16:17:14+00:00

U.S. non-farm payroll employment increased by 178k jobs in March, the largest gain since the end of 2024, far exceeding the expected 65k; the previous figure was revised from a decrease of 92k to a decrease of 133k. The U.S. unemployment rate in March fell to 4.3%, below expectations and the previous value (both at 4.4%).Non-farm employment rebounded strongly in March, and the unemployment rate unexpectedly declined, reflecting a stabilizing labor market amid the outbreak of the Israel-U.S. war. Job growth was mainly driven by the healthcare sector, but all industries generally saw gains, with the measure of hiring breadth rising to its highest level in over two years.

SighingCashier

2026-04-03 16:17:14

U.S. nonfarm payrolls added 178k jobs in March; the increase was the largest since the end of 2024, and far exceeded the expected 65k. The prior figure was revised from a decrease of 92k to a decrease of 133k. The U.S. unemployment rate fell to 4.3% in March, below expectations and the prior figure (both were 4.4%).

March nonfarm jobs saw a strong rebound, and the unemployment rate unexpectedly fell, indicating that the labor market stabilized as the war between the U.S. and Iran broke out. Job growth was mainly driven by the healthcare industry, but other industries also generally saw increases; the indicator measuring the breadth of hiring rose to more than a two-year high.

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