WASHINGTON — U.S. employers added a robust 235,000 jobs in February and raised pay at a healthy pace, making it all but certain that the Federal Reserve will raise short-term interest rates next week.

Today’s jobs report from the government made clear that the economy remains on solid footing nearly eight years after the Great Recession ended.

The unemployment rate dipped to a low of 4.7 percent from 4.8 percent, the Labor Department said. More people began looking for jobs in February, a sign of confidence that raised the proportion of Americans working or seeking work to the highest level in nearly a year.

The February jobs data likely provides the final piece of evidence the Fed needs to feel confident enough to resume raising rates.

A rate increase at the Fed’s meeting next week would mark its third hike in 15 months, a reflection of how far the economy has come since the recession ended.