This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-39233237
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
US firms add 235,000 jobs in February | |
(35 minutes later) | |
US businesses added 235,000 jobs in February, exceeding economists' forecasts of about 200,000. | |
The Bureau of Labor Statistics said on Friday that the unemployment rate had also edged lower to 4.7%. | |
The figures suggest that the US' robust jobs market maintained its strong growth in the first full month under new president Donald Trump. | |
It comes ahead of a US Federal Reserve meeting next week, which could see the central bank raise interest rates. | |
Federal Reserve chair Janet Yellen said last week that rate setters could raise rates in March if employment and inflation met their expectations. | |
The job gains in February were boosted by 58,000 new construction jobs, the most in nearly a decade. | |
However, the total number of new positions - not including agricultural jobs - was slightly below January's rise of 238,000 jobs, after it was revised up slightly from last month's estimate. | |
Mr Trump has promised to create 25 million jobs over 10 years to become "the greatest jobs president... ever". |