US job growth beats expectations in Feb amid falling new Covid-19 cases

US jobs increased more than expected in February amid falling new Covid-19 cases, quickening vaccination rates and additional pandemic relief money from the government, putting the labor market recovery back on firmer footing and on course for further gains in the months ahead.
 

Nonfarm payrolls surged 379,000 jobs last month after rising 166,000 in January, the Labor Department said on Friday. In December, payrolls fell for the first time in eight months.
 

Economists polled by Reuters had forecast February payrolls increasing by 182,000 jobs.
 

The closely watched employment report also offered a reminder that as the United States enters the