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The unemployment rate fell to 8.8% in March, vs. the expectation for the rate to increase slightly to 9.0%.

That is the lowest unemployment rate reported by the Department of Labor since March of 2009.

Average hourly earnings and the average workweek were unchanged at $22.87, and 34.4 hours, respectively.

Job growth accelerated faster than expected in March, as payrolls increased 216,000, higher than the 192,000-job gain expected by economists.

New York led the country with 22,800 job cuts last month, followed by Minnesota with 22,400 firings, and Florida with 17,900 according to figures from the report.

West Virginia had the most increase joblessness, up 0.3%, followed by Colorado, Georgia and Nevada, up 0.2% each. Nevada also showed the highest jobless rate in the country at 14.5%.

The Labor Department reported that payrolls decreased in 35 U.S. states while the unemployment rate rose in 20, showing that the labor market recovery is slow to gather momentum, according to a Bloomberg report.

Applications for jobless benefits fell 37,000 to 404,000 in the week ended January 15, which is the biggest decline since February of 2010. Economists had expected 420,000 claims.

Employers are retaining workers as the economy shows signs of strengthening. Growth may need to ramp up further in order to encourage companies to increase hiring, which would help to reduce the unemployment rate.

The Labor Department reported that the number of Americans filing first-time claims for unemployment insurance payments fell more than forecast last week, according to a Bloomberg report.