By Kevin Kastner
WASHINGTON (MktNews) - Non-farm payrolls are expected to post a modest rise in March, almost entirely due to further gains in the services category, according to a Market News International survey of economists.
A reversal in construction payrolls and another dip in manufacturing payrolls are also expected by analysts. Hourly earnings growth is seen returning to trend after fluctuations in January and February, while the workweek is expected to be trimmed further. The jobless rate is forecast to rise to 4.3%.

Forecasts:
Actual:
Median Range Responses Feb01 Jan01
Payrolls +50k -30k to +125k 19 +135k +224k
Jobless Rate 4.3% 4.2% to 4.4% 19 4.2% 4.2%
Mfg Payrolls -35k -60k to -10k 7 -94k -96k
Avg Wkly Hrs 34.1 34.1 to 34.3 11 34.2 34.3
Hrly Earnings +0.3% +0.1% to +0.4% 18 +0.5% +0.1%

Forecast risk:

Analysts have underestimated payrolls in the each of the last three months, but misses in the last six March reports have tended to be on the high side rather than the low side.