U.S. non-farm sectors added 180,000 workers to their payrolls, bringing down the unemployment rate to a five-month low of 4.4 percent, the Labor Department reported on Friday.

The jobless rate has remained within a narrow range -- 4.4 percent to 4.6 percent -- since September 2006. The rate was 4.5 percent in February.

The March performance was stronger than economists had expected. They were forecasting that the economy would create around 135,000 new jobs and the unemployment rate would edge up to 4.6 percent.

In March, construction employment rose sharply, following a large decline in the prior month. Construction companies added 56,000 positions in the month, the most in just over a year.

A sizable gain in jobs was also recorded in general merchandise stores, and job growth continued in health care and in food services.

Manufacturing employment continued to go down over the month, marking the ninth consecutive month that the sector has reduced jobs. Factories cut 16,000 jobs in March.

Job gains in January and February turned out to be 162,000 and 113,000 respectively, stronger than the previously estimated 146,000 and 97,000.

Meanwhile, workers' wages grew modestly in March. Average hourly earnings rose to 17.22 dollars, showing a 0.3 percent gain from February. Over the last 12 months, wages have increased by 4 percent.

Source: Xinhua