The leisure and hospitality industry added 51,000 jobs in February, despite the continued global threat of coronavirus, Berman & Co. reported, citing Bureau of Labor Statistics numbers. . Unemployment in the industry dropped to 5.7 percent, down from 5.9 percent in January. Year-over-year hourly wages saw a slight increase of 2.99 percent.
For the economy as a whole, nonfarm payroll employment rose by 273,000 in February, and the unemployment rate was little changed at 3.5 percent, BLS said. Notable job gains occurred in health care and social assistance, food services and drinking places, government, construction, professional and technical services, and financial activities.