U.S. adds a strong 242,000 jobs; rate holds at low 4.9 pct.

WASHINGTON – U.S. employers added a robust 242,000 workers in February as retailers, restaurants and health care providers drove another solid month for the resilient American job market. The unemployment rate remained at a low 4.9 percent.

The gains show the U.S. economy has weathered a global economic slowdown and falling financial markets without suffering much blowback. The improvement will help ease fears that a new U.S. recession might be looming.

Friday’s jobs report from the government is sure to be monitored by the Federal Reserve and presidential candidates as a gauge of how well the economy is extending its 6 1/2-year rebound from the recession.

In addition to the healthy job gain, the government revised its estimates of job growth in December and January by a combined 30,000. Over the past three months, employers have added a strong 228,000 jobs.

“Neither global headwinds, financial turbulence nor political uncertainty has dimmed American business’s enthusiasm for hiring,” said Sal Guatieri, a senior economist at BMO Capital Markets. “The solid jobs report should allay recession fears.”

Worker pay did slip last month.

Employers expect solid consumer demand in the months ahead even though the stock market has turned turbulent, oil prices have hurt energy industry jobs and a stronger dollar has reduced export sales.

Some economists also suggested the jobs report created a path for the Fed to raise interest rates again as early as June.

“It’s probably a better than a 50 percent proposition that they will raise the rates in June,” said Kevin Logan, chief U.S. economist at the bank HSBC.

Retailers added 54,900 jobs last month. Restaurants and bars added 40,200, the health care sector 38,100 and construction companies 19,000.