Payrolls in U.S. Increased 215,000 in March as Wages Picked Up

  • Hourly earnings climbed a more-than-forecast 0.3 percent
  • Jobless rate crept up as more people entered labor force

U.S. Unemployment Rate 5.0% on 215,000 Jobs Added

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Employment in the U.S. climbed and wages picked up in March, signs of labor-market durability in the face of lethargic global growth.

The 215,000 gain in payrolls followed a revised 245,000 February advance, a Labor Department report showed Friday. Average hourly earnings increased 0.3 percent from a month earlier, while the jobless rate crept up to 5 percent as more people entered the labor force.