WASHINGTON—The manufacturing sector boosted U.S. employment by 38,000 jobs in March, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported last Friday. Durable goods industries increased by 22,000 jobs and non-durable goods industries by 16,000.

On the durable goods side, the increase was paced by transportation equipment, up 10,800 jobs. That included a gain of 6,400 jobs in motor vehicles and parts. Other industries showing job increases included fabricated metal products (up 3,700 jobs), miscellaneous manufacturing (up 2,300), furniture (up 2,200) and machinery (up 1,700). Industries with job losses included non-metallic mineral products (down 4,500 jobs) and primary metals (down 700).

Manufacturing employment totaled 12.657 million jobs on a seasonally adjusted basis in March. That was up from an adjusted 12.619 million the month before and 12.268 million in March 2021.

Employment in the sector still trails the 12.785 million in February 2020. That was the last month before the COVID-19 pandemic had an impact on the U.S. economy. COVID spurred manufacturers to implement new safety procedures.

The Bureau also reported that the U.S. unemployment rate slid to 3.6 percent in March, down from 3.8 percent in February.