The unemployment rate in the US remained unchanged at 9.7 per cent in February, which is lower than expected, indicating that the labour market is slowly stabilising.
Last month, the economy saw the loss of 36,000 jobs.
The unemployment rate was anticipated to climb to 9.8 per cent, mainly on account of snowstorms that disrupted economic activities in many parts of the country in February.
"Non-farm payroll employment was little changed (-36,000) in February, and the unemployment rate held at 9.7 per cent," the US Bureau of Labor Statistics said today.
In January also, the jobless rate was at 9.7 per cent.
The payroll employment has slumped by a staggering 8.4 million since December 2007, when the American economy officially slipped into recession.
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The number of unemployed persons stood at 14.9 million in February.
Last month, employment declined in construction and information, while temporary help services added jobs.
"Severe winter weather in parts of the country may have affected payroll employment and hours; however, it is not possible to quantify precisely the net impact of the winter storms on these measures," the Bureau said in a statement.
Among the major worker groups, the jobless rate touched 10 per cent for adult men, adult women (8 per cent), whites (8.8 per cent), blacks (15.8 per cent) and Hispanics (12.4 per cent).