While employers added more than 200,000 jobs in April, the unemployment rate rose to 9 percent, up from 8.8%.

According to the Labor Department, nonfarm payrolls grew by 244,000 in April, well above expectations.

Some are crediting this, in part, to people resuming the search for work.

Private sector payrolls added 268,000 jobs, which was offset by a drop in state and local government employment. The gains were seen in services, retail, manufacturing, financial companies, education and health care and mining.