Employers added 295,000 jobs in February , marking 12th straight monthly gain above 200,000 . Fed says decline in jobless rate from 5.7 to 5.5 per cent occurred because some people stopped looking for work . Average hourly wage rose just 3 cents in February to $ 24.78 . Over the past 12 months , 3.3 million more Americans have gotten jobs .
Employers added 295,000 jobs in February , marking 12th straight monthly gain above 200,000 . Labor Department says decline in jobless rate from 5.7 to 5.5 per cent occurred because some people stopped looking for work . Average hourly wage rose just 3 cents in February to $ 24.78 . Over the past 12 months , 3.3 million more Americans have gotten jobs .