March 2026 US jobs report: payrolls increased by 178,000 jobs. Unemployment rate fell from 4.4% to 4.3%.

https://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.nr0.htm

Consensus forecast was for an increase of 65,000 jobs and for the unemployment rate to remain at 4.4%, so actual figures surprised on the positive side.

Revisions to previous months amounted to a -7,000 downward revision. January was revised up by 34,000, from +126,000 to +160,000. February was revised down by 41,000, from -92,000 to -133,000.

FRED graphs of key employment data over the past five years:

* Monthly change (in thousands) in nonfarm payroll employment levels. AKA headline job growth.

* Headline unemployment rate.

* More expansive unemployment definitions (U-3 thru U-6)