Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 379,000 in February, and the unemployment rate edged down to 6.2%, the U.S. Department of Labor reported. The labor market continued to reflect the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In February, most of the job gains occurred in leisure and hospitality, with smaller gains in temporary help services, health care and social assistance, retail trade and manufacturing. Employment declined in state and local government education, construction and mining.