U.S. Employers Add 275,000 Jobs in February, Defying High Interest Rates

Employers across the U.S. added 275,000 jobs in February, signaling continued labor market growth despite ongoing high interest rates. The job gains exceeded Wall Street expectations, which had predicted a 200,000 increase, and marked an uptick from January’s revised figure of 229,000.

The unemployment rate rose slightly to 3.9%, a 0.2% increase from January. However, the unemployment rate has remained below 4% for 25 consecutive months, marking the longest such streak since the 1960s.

Industries showing notable job growth include healthcare, government, and food services and drinking establishments.