The median forecast in a Bloomberg survey of economists called for an advance of 180,000 jobs. The unemployment rate fell to 4.5% from 4.7%, and wage gains slowed to a 2.7% year-on-year pace. Revisions to the previous two months subtracted a total of 38,000 jobs, making for an average first-quarter rise of 178,000 a month. Last month’s increase in payrolls was led by providers of professional and business services, which added 56,000 jobs. Retailers cut around 30,000 positions for a second month amid reports of store closings, while gains in construction and manufacturing eased.

Source: Bangkok Post April 07, 2017 12:56 UTC