U.S. jobless rate unchanged in March

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported this morning a 6.7 percent national unemployment rate in March, unchanged from February.

While employers added 192,000 jobs last month, the number of unemployed in the country was essentially unchanged at 10.5 million. The nation did see growth in the professional and business services, health care and mining and logging industries, among others according to a news release.

Employers in the professional and business services industry added 57,000 jobs last month, led by a 29,000-position gain in temporary help services. Within the industry, increases also were recorded in computer systems design and related services, at 6,000 jobs, and in architecture and engineering services, at 5,000.

Health care employers increased payrolls by 19,000 jobs overall last month. Ambulatory health care services led the charge, with 20,000 new jobs, while an offset was recorded in nursing care facilities, which lost 5,000 jobs during the month, according to the release.

Mining and logging employment rose by 7,000 jobs in March, with the bulk of the increase - 5,000 jobs - recorded in support activities for mining.

Also in March, construction employment continued to trend up with 19,000 jobs added. Construction employment has risen by 151,000 positions during the past year, the release said.

The number of involuntary part-time workers - those who work part time for economic reasons - was little changed at 7.4 million in March, according to the release.