The economy added 175,000 jobs last month, the Labor Department reported Friday. By itself that wouldn't count as a particularly strong figure. But given the snowstorm that hit much of the country right as the employment data were being collected last month, it's impressive. Indeed, the Labor Department's survey of households showed that 601,000 people were employed but not at work due to bad weather in February, compared with 237,000 a year earlier.

The unemployment rate ticked up to 6.7% from 6.6% in January. But the reason it did so was good: More people entered the pool of those looking for work. Shrinking labor participation rates have been a cloud hanging over the jobs market. Indeed, February marked the first time in nearly four years that more of the unemployed found work than dropped out of the labor force.

All of which suggests that, despite three months of subpar employment figures, the job market has remained firm.

If Federal Reserve policy makers had any doubts about reducing their monthly bond purchases by an additional $10 billion when they meet in two weeks, the jobs report probably swept those away. The conversation will instead probably shift back to when the Fed might tighten. After all, the unemployment rate is close to the 6.5% threshold the central bank has set for when it starts considering raising its target interest rate, and at the current pace it will have completely tapered away its bond-buying program by the end of the year. The minutes from the Fed's January policy-setting meeting showed that a "few" officials argued that rate increases might soon be necessary to prevent the economy from overheating.

But those officials probably represent the smattering of hawks at the Fed who, while vocal, have had only a minimal influence on policy lately. Given that recently released transcripts from the fall of 2008 show that some of them were worrying about inflation even as the financial system crashed around them, it is easy to see why.

Rather, the Fed will probably set the bar for job-market improvement higher. There are, after all, a great many people still out of work, and the pace of hiring has only been strong enough to gradually draw them back into employment. That's a particular worry for Fed Chairwoman Janet Yellen, who has made no bones of her concerns over the economic headwinds long-term joblessness can create. And with the Fed's preferred measure of inflation well below its 2% target, those concerns will take precedence.

The trick for Ms. Yellen in the months ahead may be persuading investors that the Fed is serious about keeping policy easy. As the chill comes off the economy, that won't be easy.