Job growth continues to accelerate in the United States as the unemployment rate holds steady.

Nonfarm payrolls increased 428,000 in April and the jobless rate remained unchanged at 3.6 percent, according to the latest U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates.

Labor participation remains below the February 2020 level, however, and the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in the U.S.

Estimated payroll gains for March and February were revised downward a total of 39,000 to 428,000 and 714,000, respectively.

For April, 5.9 million people were counted among those unsuccessfully looking for work. Of those, 1.5 million have been out of work 27 weeks or longer. 

Another 4 million people were counted among those working part-time because their hours were cut or they were unable to find full-time positions.

The labor force participation rate — the share of the population working or looking for work — fell to 62.2 percent, the lowest level in three months.

Payroll gains in April were spread out among a number of industry sectors. Employment increased 78,000 in leisure and hospitality, 55,000 in manufacturing, 52,000 in transportation and warehousing, 41,000 in professional and business services, 35,000 in financial activities, 34,000 in health care, 29,000 in retail trades and 22,000 in wholesale trades.

The average workweek for employees on private, nonfarm payrolls remained unchanged at 34.6 hours. The average manufacturing work week shortened two-tenths of an hour to 40.5 hours.

Average hourly earnings for employees on nonfarm payrolls rose 10 cents to $31.85. Over the past year, average hourly earnings have increased 5.5 percent.