Payrolls swelled and the unemployment rate edged down in the United States in March, the federal government reported.

Nonfarm payrolls increased 916,000 and the jobless rate fell two-tenths of a point to 6 percent, according to the latest estimates from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The payroll gain was the largest monthly increase since August.

Initial estimates for payroll gains in January and February were revised upward a total of 156,000.

With the latest numbers, total nonfarm employment is down 8.4 million, or about 5.5 percent, from its pre-pandemic peak in February 2020.

For March, 9.7 million people were counted among those unsuccessfully looking for work. Of those, 4.2 million have been unemployed 27 weeks or longer. Another 5.8 million were counted among those working part-time because their hours were cut or they’ve been unable to find full-time positions.

The labor participation rate was little changed at 61.5 percent.

Payroll gains were spread out among all industry sectors. 

Employment increased 280,000 in the leisure and hospital sector, 176,000 of that in food services and drinking places. Still, employment in the sector is down 3.1 million since February 2020.

Payrolls rose 110,000 in construction, 76,000 in local government education, 66,000 in professional and business services and 53,000 in manufacturing.

The average workweek for employees on private, nonfarm payrolls lengthened three-tenths of an hour to 34.9 hours. The manufacturing workweek lengthened two-tenths of an hour to 40.5 hours.

Average hourly earnings for employees on private, nonfarm payrolls fell 4 cents to $29.96.