Analysis: The U.S. employment rebound in March exceeded expectations, and the Federal Reserve's focus on inflation risks may be further intensified.

ME News update, April 3 (UTC+8): U.S. employment growth rebounded in March more than expected, driven by the end of a healthcare-sector strike and a rise in temperatures. Meanwhile, the unemployment rate fell to 4.3%, but as uncertainty rises around the outlook for a war with Iran, downside risks facing the labor market are increasing. A highly anticipated jobs report released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics on Friday showed that nonfarm payrolls added 178k jobs last month, far above market expectations of 60k, marking the largest increase since late 2024. February data was revised downward by 133k. The unemployment rate in March was 4.3%, also below market expectations. Economists broadly expect that after the strike ended, the job market will see a rebound in March. The unemployment rate dropped significantly because more than 30k healthcare workers lost their jobs in February and the harsh winter weather. This strong growth may further reinforce the Federal Reserve’s focus on inflation risks, as rapid energy price increases triggered by the war in the Middle East have heightened these concerns. Wage growth was mainly supported by job gains in the healthcare industry, which has recovered after the strike ended. The construction, leisure and entertainment, and hotel industries also rebounded after declining in February, which may reflect weather-related economic recovery. (Jin10) (Source: ODAILY)