U.S. payrolls grew last month at the fastest pace since May, an indication of an improving job market, MarketWatch reported.

The U.S. Department of Labor said nonfarm payrolls grew by a seasonally adjusted 216,000 in March, as the private sector added 230,000 jobs. It was the first time in five years that the private sector, which grew by 240,000 jobs in February, has added more than 200,000 jobs for two consecutive months.

The U.S. unemployment rate fell to a seasonally adjusted 8.8 percent in March – the lowest since March 2009 – from 8.9 percent in February, according to a survey of 60,000 households.

“The speed of the decline in the unemployment rate already is putting pessimists to shame,” said Robert Brusca, chief economist at FAO Economics.