Ammon News - Hiring in the US surged last month, despite the energy shock and uncertainty stemming from the US-Israel war in Iran.

Employers added 178,000 jobs, far more than expected, while the unemployment rate dipped to 4.3%, the Labor Department said.

Analysts said the gains were likely lifted by the end of strikes in the health care industry which had led to steep losses in February. But the figures are still likely to increase confidence in the resilience of the job market, which has slowed sharply over the last year.

It is also expected to bolster the case for the US central bank to hold off on cutting interest rates, as it waits to see what impact the rise in oil prices has on the economy.

US President Donald Trump has pushed the Federal Reserve to lower borrowing costs aggressively, a move that would give the economy a boost.

But the bank has held off in recent months, citing concerns about inflation, which remains above its 2% target. Fed chair Jerome Powell has described the economy as being in a delicate balance, with muted job creation but also relatively limited job cuts.

BBC