The United States added 196,000 jobs in March: the unemployment rate remained at 3.8%

The United States added 196,000 jobs in March and the unemployment rate remained at 3.8%, according to the Ministry of Labor this Friday. The result exceeded the expectations of economic badysts, who expected an increase of about 177,000 jobs last month.

This figure represents a significant improvement over February, when only 33,000 workers joined the labor force. March data mark the hundredth consecutive month of job growth in this North American country.

Health services, professionals and technicians were the most job-creating sectors. The health system created 49,000 jobs in March and 398,000 in the last 12 months, while the number of jobs in professional and technical services increased by 34,000 in March and 311,000 in one year.

Although the report gives a good idea of ​​the state of the US economy, average monthly employment growth seems to be decreasing. Average employment growth was 188,000 jobs per month in the first quarter of 2019, compared with an average of 223,000 per month in 2018.. In contrast, the average hourly wage was 3.2% higher than last March, compared with a 3.4% year-on-year increase in February.

The US economy continues to record one of its largest expansions in history. It has generated nearly 21 million jobs since the trough of the job market in 2010 and the unemployment rate, which peaked at 10% in October 2009.