The Labor Department said U.S. employment edged up in March by 88,000, and the unemployment rate was little changed at 7.6%. Employment grew in professional and business services and in healthcare but declined in retail trade.

Construction employment continued to trend up in March (+18,000). Since September, the construction industry has added 169,000 jobs. In March, employment continued to expand among specialty trade contractors (+23,000). Employment in specialty trade contractors has increased by 128,000 since September, with the gain about equally split between the residential and nonresidential components.

Employment in other major industries, including mining, manufacturing, wholesale trade, transportation and warehousing, information and financial activities, government, showed little change over the month.

To read the Labor Department news release click here.