Payrolls dropped in 31 U.S. states in March, led by a slump in energy producers such as Texas and Oklahoma. The unemployment rate fell in 23.

Employers in March added the fewest workers since December 2013 and the jobless rate held at 5.5 percent as companies sought to bring U.S. headcounts in line with an economy that throttled back at the start of the year.

An additional 2.95 million Americans found work in 2014, the most in 15 years.

Headcounts are growing as the worlds largest economy strengthens, powered in part by a pickup in household purchases.

More Americans filed applications for unemployment benefits for the first time in five weeks, displaying the typical year-end holiday swings that make the data difficult to interpret.

Rising demand is encouraging businesses to hold the line on dismissals and take on more workers.

Gains in consumer spending and business investment helped the U.S. economy rebound more than forecast in the second quarter.

Payrolls rose in 33 states in June and the unemployment rate fell in 22, adding to signs the labor market was making progress in the worlds largest economy.