The unemployment rate was 2.6% in February 2024, compared to market forecasts and the January figure of 2.4%. The number of unemployed increased by 120 thousand to 1.82 million and employment increased 220 thousand to 67.83 million. The labor force rose by 310 thousand to 69.66 million, while the absence from the labor force dropped by 240 thousand to 40.28 million. The non-seasonally adjusted labor force participation rate was up from 62.1% in that month a year earlier to 1.