The U.S. economy gained 244,000 jobs in April, the biggest increase in almost a year, but the nation's unemployment rate rose to 9.0%, according to government data.
Economists predicted a net gain of 175,000 jobs. Payrolls for March and February, based on a survey of business establishments, were also revised up by a combined 41,000, the U.S. Labor Department reported Friday.
Yet a separate survey of U.S. households found that the labour force declined in April by 190,000 to 139.7 million, pushing the jobless rate up to 9.0% from 8.8% in March.
It was the first increase since last November. Average hourly earnings, meanwhile, rose 0.1% to $22.95 U.S. The average workweek remained unchanged.
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