Nationwide unemployment settles at 8.2%

National nonfarm payroll employment rose by 120,000 during March as the U.S. unemployment rate dropped a tenth of a point to 8.2 percent.

According to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data released today, employment last month rose in manufacturing, food services, drinking establishments, financial activities and health care, but it dropped in retail trade.

Manufacturing employers added 37,000 jobs in March, according to the BLS report. Manufacturers in motor vehicles and parts led the manufacturing industry with 12,000 new jobs, followed by machinery, 7,000 jobs; fabricated metals, 5,000 jobs; and paper manufacturing, 3,000 jobs. Factory employment has jumped 470,000 positions since its low point in January 2010, the release said.

Within the leisure and hospitality industries, employment in food services and drinking establishments rose by 37,000 last month, and the sector has risen by 563,000 since its low point in February 2010.

Employment in the financial activities sector was up by 15,000 last month, with most of that gain - 11,000 jobs - coming from credit intermediation.

Health care employment in March grew by 26,000, with offices of physicians and hospitals adding 8,000 jobs apiece during the month, the release said.

Offsetting gains during the month was retail trade employment, which fell by 34,000. General merchandise stores contributed to much of the loss, by 32,000 jobs, with small losses in other retail industries. Retail trade losses were partially offset by gains of 6,000 jobs in health and personal care stores and 5,000 jobs in building material and garden supply stores.

Employment in other major private sector industries, including mining, construction, wholesale trade, transportation and warehousing, and information, showed little change during March, the release said.

Average hourly earnings for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls rose by 5 cents, or 0.2 percent, to $23.39 during March.