Employers in the US added more than 300,000 jobs last month, the largest gain in almost a year, as the boom in the world’s largest economy continued.
The jobless rate fell to 3.8%, as most sectors, including health care, construction and the government added roles, the Labor Department said.
It marked another month of stronger-than-expected growth. Economists had forecast job gains of about 200,000.
Analysts said the strong figures could delay cuts to US interest rates.
The US central bank’s key interest rate is currently at the highest level in more than two decades, in a range of 5.25%-5.5%.
Analysts have expected the Federal Reserve to start cutting rates this year to avoid a harsh slowdown triggered by high borrowing costs.
But a stronger-than-expected economy has raised doubts about how soon those cuts might come.
The Fed raised interest rates sharply in 2022 to try to slow the economy and ease the pressures that were pushing up prices at the fastest rate in decades.
Price inflation in the US has since cooled, dropping to 3.2% in February, without the big jump in unemployment some had feared would follow the rise in borrowing costs.