The U.S. economy created 178,000 jobs in March, and the unemployment rate edged down to 4.3 percent.

The US added the most jobs in March since late 2024, allaying fears of a further deterioration in the labour market just as the world’s largest economy faces an energy shock from the Iran war.

Hiring boomed after shedding jobs in February, suggesting a steadying labor market as the Iran war injected fresh uncertainty into the economic outlook.