The U.S. unemployment rate fell to 7.7 percent in February, adding 236,000 jobs and decreasing the number to the lowest its been since December 2008, according to a Friday report by the Department of Labor.

After topping 10 percent in October 2009, the U.S. jobless rate has steadily declined for three years, plateauing at just under 8 percent in September and remaining stagnate for several months. The unemployment rate was 7.9 percent in January.

The increase in American jobs comes as austerity measures on Washington threatens future employment. February was not affected by $85 billion in federal budget cuts that went into effect March 1.