The Labor Department said U.S. employment rose by 236,000 in February, and the unemployment rate edged down to 7.7%. Employment increased in professional and business services, construction and healthcare.

In February, employment in construction increased by 48,000. Since September, construction employment has risen by 151,000. In February, job growth occurred in specialty trade contractors, with this gain about equally split between residential (+17,000) and nonresidential specialty trade contractors (+15,000). Nonresidential building construction also added jobs (+6,000).

The manufacturing workweek rose by 0.2 hour to 40.9 hours, and factory overtime edged up by 0.1 hour to 3.4 hours.

To read the Labor Department news release click here.