44,000 manufacturing jobs were created in April, the largest increase since 1998.

The report found that 573,000 jobs have been created since December, including 483,000 in the private sector; jobs have now been created in five of the last six months. In addition, 44,000 manufacturing jobs were created in April, the largest increase since 1998.

However, the unemployment rate rose slightly to 9.9 percent from 9.7 percent as a result of 805,000 more people entering the workforce, due to growing optimism.

The BLS also revised upward its March job numbers to 230,000 jobs created (from the 162,000 originally reported). The February numbers were also revised up to +39,000 (from -14,000).