U.S. Employers Added 175,000 Jobs to Payrolls in February

Total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 175,000 jobs nationwide in February, according to this morning's report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Meanwhile, the unemployment rate (6.7%) changed little over the month.

Industries that added the most jobs in February included professional and business services (+79,000); education and health services (+33,000); and leisure and hospitality (+25,000). The information industry lost 16,000 jobs in February, largely due to declines in motion picture and sound recording, which the BLS noted can be volatile from one month to the next.

The BLS also reported that average hourly earnings for all private-sector employees rose by 9 cents in February. Average hourly earnings were also up from the previous year, with a gain of 52 cents since February 2013.

More information about the U.S. employment situation for February can be found in the full news release.