By Valorie Rice
EBR Senior Business Information Specialist
The US employment situation for March was released Friday, April 4. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, nonfarm payroll employment rose 192,000 for the month. Job growth for March was focused on private employment as government was unchanged. Employment data for the previous two months were revised up, with January figure moving from 129,000 to 144,000 and February from 175,000 to 197,000. The unemployment rate was unchanged at 6.7 percent for March.
Arizona initial unemployment claims were up 208 to 4,645 the third week of March. The four-week average was also up slightly at 4,552 compared to 4,415 the week before. Nationally, claims rose 16,000 the last week of March to a seasonally-adjusted 326,000. The less volatile four-week average was at 319,250. These figures are near pre-recession levels, suggesting some stability in hiring.
Hands and calculator photo courtesy Shutterstock.
