Employers added more workers than projected in February, but the jobless rate unexpectedly climbed from a five-year low.

Fewer Americans than projected filed applications for unemployment benefits last week.

Harsh winter weather conditions, which kept some shoppers away from stores and car dealerships, help explain why companies were hesitant to accelerate hiring.

As the debate rages on whether an increase in the U.S. minimum wage will boost or hinder hiring, one aspect is more unambiguous. It would almost surely lift consumer spending.

Companies including Gap Inc. and Wal-Mart Stores Inc. are caught up in the debate over raising pay.

Fewer Americans filed applications for unemployment benefits last week.

Just one in three teens in the United States worked or looked for a job in January, a record-low since 1948 when the Labor Department data starts.

Businesses must comply with more restrictive rules on treatment of applicants with prior arrests and convictions, yet hiring someone with a record who commits a crime against a customer or colleague could leave them liable.