New data compiled by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows the bulk of the manufacturing losses came from the motorized vehicle industry, non-metallic mineral products, and durable goods, which includes furniture. Wood products lost 3,000 jobs. This is the first loss in quite some time - in the 12 months prior to February, manufacturing added an average of 22,000 jobs each month.

 

The construction industry was up 16,000 jobs - adding to an increase of 246,000 jobs over the past year.

 

Total manufacturing jobs number 12.82 million as of March, up from last year's 12.61 million. The industry peaked in 1979 when jobs numbered 19.6 million. The industry low was in February 2010 when jobs numbered 11.45 million.

 

The overall gain of 196,000 jobs however is significant as analysts had predicted 180,000. It's also much higher than February's gain of just 20,000. The overall unemployment rate was unchanged at 3.8 percent.