The U.S. economy gained 236,000 jobs in March, and the unemployment rate was little changed at 3.5%, according to figures released Friday morning by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This strong jobs report shows there is still room to expand job opportunities for Americans. Wage growth continues at levels that are consistent with low levels of inflation.
In response to the March job numbers, AFL-CIO Chief Economist William Spriggs tweeted:
#JobsReport #NumbersDay The share of Black workers holding a job exceeds the share for white workers holding a job for the first time in March. @AFLCIO @rolandsmartin @CBTU72 @BobbyScott @NAACP @DerrickNAACP pic.twitter.com/9DQleZTkbL
— William E. Spriggs (@WSpriggs) April 7, 2023
#JobsReport #NumbersDay The slowing of of hiring in construction specialty trades in March may be showing the initial effects of @federalreserve destroy the labor market policies (higher rates slow home improvements and repairs). Let's hope it was more weather related. @AFLCIO pic.twitter.com/C9Dao6B2uq
— William E. Spriggs (@WSpriggs) April 7, 2023
The increase in labor force participation by prime age workers is a good sign for the economy. https://t.co/MB7Igyu3eI
— William E. Spriggs (@WSpriggs) April 7, 2023
#JobsReport #NumbersDay Lowest Black unemployment rate in over 50 years at 5.0% in March @AFLCIO @rolandsmartin @BobbyScott @NAACP @DerrickNAACP @CBTU72 pic.twitter.com/hK4WoLAiNX
— William E. Spriggs (@WSpriggs) April 7, 2023
#JobsReport #NumbersDay In March, the share of adult (over 20 years old) Black women who were employed finally recovered to its pre-Great Recession peak!! We should always sprint to full employment and run marathons on inflation @federalreserve has its priorities reversed @AFLCIO pic.twitter.com/UwegpiDBWR
— William E. Spriggs (@WSpriggs) April 7, 2023
#JobsReport #NumbersDay At 4.2% the unemployment rate for adult (over age 20) Black women reaches its lowest point in over 50 years!! @AFLCIO @NPWF @IWPResearch @AprilDRyan @LVBurke @NAACP @DerrickNAACP pic.twitter.com/4Ke8s1mhvA
— William E. Spriggs (@WSpriggs) April 7, 2023
#JobsReport #NumbersDay In March, local government hiring continues to recover from its pre-Pandemic levels. A good use of ARPA of 2021 funds would be to get back to levels to be more resilient in the face of violent weather patterns local governments need to respond to. @AFLCIO pic.twitter.com/WUu6QRmMFX
— William E. Spriggs (@WSpriggs) April 7, 2023
March's biggest job gains were in leisure and hospitality (+72,000), government (+47,000), professional and business services (+39,000), health care (+34,000), social assistance (+17,000), transportation and warehousing (+10,000). Retail trade declined in March (-15,000). Employment showed little change over the month in other major industries, including mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction; construction; manufacturing; wholesale trade; information; financial activities; and other services.
Among the major worker groups, the unemployment rate for Hispanics (4.6%) decreased in March. The unemployment rates for teenagers (9.8%), Black Americans (5.0%), adult men (3.4%), White Americans (3.2%), adult women (3.1%), and Asian Americans (2.8%) showed little or no change over the month.
The number of long-term unemployed workers (those jobless for 27 weeks or longer) was little changed in March and accounted for 18.9% of the total people unemployed.