US adds 678K jobs in February as businesses recover from Omicron surge

US employers added 678,000 jobs in February, far more than economists expected – in a sign that businesses are returning to normal operations as COVID-19 case totals drop following the Omicron variant surge.

The US unemployment rate was 3.8%, down from 4.0% in January, according to the latest data from the Labor Department’s Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Economists had expected the latest jobs report to show the US economy added 440,000 jobs in February, according to Dow Jones estimates. The national unemployment rate was expected to fall slightly to 3.9%.

February’s hiring totals were even higher than last month’s stronger-than-expected jobs report. In January, employers added 467,000 jobs – far more than most analysts predicted – as businesses shook off chaotic conditions caused by the Omicron surge.