Commissioner's Statement on the Employment Situation News Release — 2016-04-01

Advance copies of this statement are made available to the press under lock-up conditions with the explicit understanding that the data are embargoed until 8:30 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time. Nonfarm payroll employment increased by 215,000 in March, and the unemployment rate was little changed at 5.0 percent. Job growth occurred in retail trade, construction, and health care. Employment fell in manufacturing and mining. Incorporating revisions for January and February, which reduced nonfarm payroll employment by 1,000 on net, monthly job gains have averaged 209,000 over the past 3 months. In the 12 months prior to March, employment growth averaged 223,000 per month. In March, retail trade employment rose by 48,000. Job growth occurred in general merchandise stores (+12,000), health and personal care stores (+10,000), building material and garden supply stores (+10,000), and auto dealers (+5,000). Over the year, retail trade has added 378,000 jobs.