US economy added 178K jobs in March, nearly triple Wall Street expectations

The Labor Department on Friday reported the U.S. economy gained 178,000 non-farm jobs in March – exceeding Wall Street expectations and reserving job losses the previous month. 

Wall Street expectations was 59,000 new jobs, according to CNBC.com. 

The March unemployment rate was 4.3%, slightly lower than the 4.4% rate in February, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics monthly report.

The change in total non-farm payroll employment for January was revised up by 34,000, from plus 126,000 to plus160,000. And the change for February was revised down by 41,000, from  minus 92,000 to minus 133,000. 

With the revisions, employment in January and February combined was 7,000 lower than previously reported, the federal agency also reported.