The increase of 177,000 nonfarm payroll jobs was a little higher than expected.

Unemployment did fall to 5.9 percent, the lowest level in four years, but the 239,000 added payroll jobs were lower than expected.

The increase in payroll jobs nationwide last month was 24,000.

In December the unemployment rate stayed at 5.3 percent and 262,000 payroll jobs were added.

For the full year, payroll jobs rose 1.7 million, about half as many as in 1994, the report also showed.

The unemployment rate last month was still over 7 percent, and the number of private payroll jobs rose by only 106,000.

Over all, the April decline in payroll jobs was just half the average of the three preceding months.

The report is expected to show the economy added 250,000 new payroll jobs in December, with the unemployment rate remaining at 4.1 percent.

Job growth is still sluggish, even though 144,000 payroll jobs were created last month.

Pay particular attention to the number of new payroll jobs.