(TriceEdneyWire.com) - The unemployment rate for African-Americans was 9.0 percent in March, higher than the 8.8 percent recorded in February, although the nation’s non-farm businesses added 215,000 jobs, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported this morning.

The jobless rate for both, Black men and Black women 20 years old and older climbed last month.

For Black men, the unemployment rate was 8.7 percent in March compared with 8.6 percent in February.  BLS reported that the unemployment rate in March for Black women 20 years old and older was 8.0 percent, up from 7.9 percent in February.

The unemployment rate for African-Americans remained higher than other ethnic and racial groups. The jobless rate for Whites was 4.3 percent, Hispanics 5.6 percent and Asians 4.0 percent.

The nation’s overall unemployment rate was 5.0 percent. Job losses occurred in manufacturing and mining. Employment increased in health care, retail trade and construction.

The ADP National Employment Report, which monitors private sector job growth, said small businesses employing 1 to 49 employees added 86,000 jobs in March. Medium-size companies, employing 50 to 499 workers, added 75,000 workers in March. And large businesses, employing 500 to 1,000 or more workers, hired 39,000 workers.

The Goods-producing sector added 9,000 jobs in March and the Service-providing sector added 191,000, reported ADP, which is based in Roseland, N.J.