U.S. unemployment

WASHINGTON, April 2 (UPI) -- The U.S. economy gained 162,000 jobs in March but the unemployment rate was unchanged at 9.7 percent, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics said Friday.

The number of new jobs was less than the 200,000 increase that had been estimated by economists. As expected the gains are generally reflected a rise in the number of short-term jobs for the Census Bueau. In March that totaled 48,000 jobs -- more than one-quarter of the overall increase.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics said the unemployment rate, which hit a high of 10.1 percent in October, was 9.7 percent for the third consecutive month with the number of unemployed "little changed" at 15 million. Of that figure, 6.5 million have been unemployed for more than 26 weeks.

The government said growth continued in temporary help services, which added 40,000 jobs in March and 313,000 positions since September. Healthcare fields added 27,000.

The U.S. government, which has been growing while the private sector is yet to turn, is adding about 700,000 jobs for the census but those positions are almost all for six weeks or less.