The U.S. unemployment rate fell to 8.9% as the U.S. economy added 192,000 non-farm jobs in February, the U.S. Labor Department reports.

It is the first time since April 2009 that the jobless rate has fallen below 9%.

The Labor Department says private-sector employers added 222,000 jobs. That was offset by the loss of 330,000 government jobs, mainly at the state level.

In addition, the report says the January number was revised to show an increase of 63,000 jobs from a previous estimate of 36,000.