U.S. Employment Report Shows 145,000 Job Additions in March, Unemployment Rate Holds at 3.9%
• The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported 145,000 nonfarm payroll additions in March, modestly below the 165,000 forecast but within a range suggesting labor market deceleration without crisis-level deterioration. • The unemployment rate remained flat at 3.9%, while average hourly earnings grew 3.8% year-over-year, slightly below the 4.0% pace in February and indicating moderating wage pressures that support the Fed's inflation narrative. • Economists cited seasonal adjustments and service sector softness as factors in the slower jobs growth, though private payroll strength and continued hiring in healthcare and professional services suggest underlying economic resilience despite recent market volatility.
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