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US Employers Add Surprising 178,000 Jobs in March
Rebound from weak February, but uncertainty over Iran war's impact looms
Apr. 3, 2026 at 6:21pm
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The resilience of the US job market in the face of global uncertainty is captured in this abstract geometric illustration.NYC TodayAmerican employers added a surprisingly strong 178,000 new jobs in March, rebounding from a dismal February. The unemployment rate also dipped to 4.3%. However, uncertainty surrounding the war with Iran and its impact on energy prices is clouding the outlook for the labor market.
Why it matters
The strong job growth in March marks a turnaround from the loss of 133,000 jobs in February. However, economists warn that the full impact of the war with Iran and higher energy prices may not be reflected in the March numbers, which could weigh on future hiring.
The details
Health care companies added 76,400 jobs last month, boosted by the return of 31,000 Kaiser Permanente employees to work after the end of a strike in February. Factories added 15,000 jobs, but have still shed jobs for 14 of the last 16 months. Construction companies added 26,000 jobs, likely due to warmer weather. Average hourly wages were up 0.2% from February and 3.5% compared to March 2025.
- The Labor Department reported the March jobs data on April 3, 2026.
- The job gains in March marked a rebound from the loss of 133,000 jobs in February.
The players
Thomas Simons
Chief U.S. economist with the investment firm Jefferies.
Diane Swonk
Chief economist at the accounting firm KPMG.
Mai Truong
Founder of Bo & Mei, a company that makes games and puzzles designed to celebrate Asian heritage.
Adam Schickling
Economist at Vanguard.
Stephen Brown
Chief North America economist at Capital Economics.
What they’re saying
“The data is mostly backward-looking, and likely does not incorporate any impact from the recent rise in energy prices, or other risks related to the war in Iran.”
— Thomas Simons, Chief U.S. economist
“But those are now being eaten up by higher energy costs.”
— Diane Swonk, Chief economist
“It makes everything feel very uncertain. On the other hand, there's so little you can do with the volatility. You just have to stay the course and kind of deal with the variables as they become more clear.”
— Mai Truong, Founder
“The larger-than-expected rebound in nonfarm payrolls in March mainly reflects a reversal of the strike and weather effects that weighed on hiring in February, rather than being a sign that the labor market is rapidly gaining momentum.”
— Stephen Brown, Chief North America economist
“The trend reflects an aging U.S. population. A graying Japan saw the same thing in the early 2010s.”
— Adam Schickling, Economist
What’s next
The Federal Reserve will likely take time to assess the impact of higher energy prices on the overall economy before deciding whether to cut interest rates.
The takeaway
The strong March jobs report provides some positive economic news, but the uncertainty surrounding the war with Iran and its impact on energy prices could weigh on future hiring and economic growth.
