BEIJING, April 1 (Reuters) - Activity in China's services industry expanded in March at a faster pace than in the previous month, an official survey showed on Friday.

The official non-manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) rose to 53.8 in March, up from the previous month's 52.7 and well above the 50-point mark that separates growth from contraction on a monthly basis.

With manufacturing in a prolonged slump, services have been a crucial source of growth and jobs for China over the past year, and analysts have been watching closely to see if the sector can maintain momentum in 2016.

(Reporting by Beijing Monitoring Desk; Editing by Kim Coghill)