February NFP = +273K; Unemployment 3.5%

The February jobs report is out. The U.S. economy created 273,000 net new jobs last month. Expectations were for 175,000.

The unemployment rate is 3.5% and the broader U-6 rate is 7%.

The labor force participation is 63.4%. Average hourly earnings rose nine cents last month to $28.52. That’s an increase of 0.3%. In the last year, average hourly earnings are up 3%.

December’s NFP was revised higher by 37,000 and January’s was raised by 48,000.

Healthcare gained 57,000, restaurants and bars added 53,000 and government added 45,000. On the downside, retail lost 7,000 jobs.

Here’s a 20-year look at jobs and the stock market.

Posted by on March 6th, 2020 at 8:37 am


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