U.S. labor market eyes modest recovery in March following February payroll slump

try{ var _=i o; . if(!_||_&&typeof _==="object"&&_.expiry Houthis strike Israel as conflict widens; 12 US soldiers injured in a Saudi strike Expert says the upcoming week will be a pivotal moment in the Iran war. Here’s why Leading broker sees gold falling to $3,700 as a real possibility U.S. tech pullback mirrors late stages of dotcom era, strategists say (South Africa Philippines Nigeria) U.S. labor market eyes modest recovery in March following February payroll slump By Author Simon Mugo Economy Published 03/28/2026, 07:29 PM U.S. labor market eyes modest recovery in March following February payroll slump 0 CAT -1.11% AMZN -3.95% WMT 0.58% Investing.com -- The U.S. employment landscape is expected to show signs of a modest "thaw" in March, as economists project a rebound following one of the sharpest payroll pullbacks since the pandemic. According to the median estimate of a Bloomberg survey, nonfarm payrolls are forecast to rise by 60,000 for the month, reversing a 92,000 decline in February. Get more insights by upgrading to InvestingPro - up to 50% discount now The unemployment rate is projected to hold steady at 4.4%, reflecting a labor market that maintains a baseline of resilience despite a lack of significant hiring momentum. Sectoral rebounds and consumer demand The anticipated March bounce-back is partly attributed to the resolution of temporary drags. Healthcare payrolls are expected to move higher following the conclusion of a strike involving over 30,000 Kaiser Permanente employees. Additionally, analysts are looking for a recovery in the construction and leisure sectors, which suffered from weather-related volatility in the previous month. Bloomberg Economics offers a slightly more optimistic outlook, penciling in an 80,000 gain, a figure seen as sufficient to keep the unemployment rate stable amid current labor-force growth trends. The March labor data arrives alongside critical retail sales figures, which are projected to show that consumer demand ...