The U.S. unemployment rate stayed at 9.7 percent in February as employers cut a fewer-than-expected 36,000 jobs, the Labor Department reported Friday.
Economists had forecast 50,000 job losses and that the jobless rate would rise to 9.8 percent.
The report said severe snowstorms that hit the east coast of the country in February might have affected job losses, but the impact was unclear.
In February, manufacturing added 1,000 jobs, but construction payrolls fell 64,000 jobs. Temporary hiring added 48,000.
