10-Mar-2025 09:03

Employment in the U.S. increased by slightly less than expected in the month of February, according to a closely watched report released by the Labor Department on Friday.

The report said non-farm payroll employment climbed by 151,000 jobs in February after rising by a downwardly revised 125,000 jobs in January.

The Labor Department said jobs gains in the healthcare, financial activities, transportation and warehousing and social assistance sectors was partly offset by a decrease by federal government employment.

The report also said the unemployment crept up to 4.1 percent in February from 4.1 percent in January.

The unexpected uptick by the unemployment rate came as the household survey measure of employment plunged by 588,000 persons, while the labor force shrank by 385,000 persons.

The Labor Department also said average hourly employee earnings increased by 10 cents, or 0.3 percent, to $35.93 in February.

The annual rate of average hourly employee earnings growth crept up to 4.0 percent in February from a downwardly revised 3.9 percent in January.

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