13 Mar 2012

US economy creates 227,000 jobs in February

9:00 am on 13 March 2012

The US economy created 227,000 jobs in February, while the unemployment rate stayed at 8.3%, the lowest level in nearly three years.

Official figures also showed that job-creation figures in December and January were even stronger than first estimated.

President Barack Obama said the figures showed the economy was "getting stronger".

Employment has been rising for the past six months, but the jobless rate has been stuck above 8% since early 2009.