March 6 (UPI) -- Nonfarm payrolls fell by 92,000 in February while the rate of unemployment climbed to 4.4%, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Friday.

Health care employment experienced one of the biggest declines of any major employment category, falling by 28,000.

The BLS said physicians' offices lost 37,000 jobs due to strikes.

For the 12-month period ending in February, health care added an average of 36,000 jobs per month.

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