U.S. adds 242,000 jobs in February, unemployment holds steady

Construction.
(Image credit: Jewel Samas/AFP/Getty Images)

The U.S. economy exceeded expectations by adding 242,000 jobs in February, up from an underwhelming 151,000 jobs in January. The unemployment rate held steady at its eight-year low of 4.9 percent. Economists have said that payrolls need to exceed 125,000 to keep the jobless rate stable. Average hourly earnings dropped slightly, by 0.1 percent, following big gains in January.

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Jeva Lange

Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.