With 114,000 non-farm jobs added, Wall Street and the presidential candidates focused on the unemployment rate, which edged lower to 7.8% from August's 8.1%. Ref. USAToday
The number of people filing for initial jobless claims surged 46,000 to 388,000 last week, the U.S. Government says.
The previous week the number of initial claims had fallen to a four-year low.
The large swings illustrate just how volatile the data are from week to week, which is why economists often prefer to look at a four-week moving average.
That indicator increased to 365,500 last week and has been hovering in the 360,000 to 380,000 range since July. Ref. CNN
Private sector hiring jumped in October, according to a report released today by payroll processor ADP. Private employers added 158,000 jobs in the month, ADP said, beating economists' forecasts of 143,000.
The ADP report came out a day before the government's official monthly jobs report, but it's not always been a great predictor of what the government report will say.
Meanwhile, the number of people filing for initial jobless claims fell 9,000 to 363,000 in the latest week, the U.S. Government said. Ref. CNN
The U.S. Economy added 171,000 jobs in October, well above what economists had expected.
Unemployment rose slightly to 7.9%, the U.S. Department of Labor said.
The report has been highly anticipated, coming just days before the conclusion of a presidential race in which the economy has played a central role. Ref. CNN
The U.S. Economy added 146,000 jobs in November, and the unemployment rate fell to its lowest level in four years, the U.S. Labor Department said today.
The number is relatively strong given that some economists were concerned that Superstorm Sandy would weigh on job creation.
The November unemployment rate fell to 7.7% from 7.9% the month earlier. Ref. CNN
American Dream Fades for Generation Y Professionals:
Generation Y professionals entering the workforce are finding careers that once were gateways to high pay and upwardly mobile lives turning into detours and dead ends. Average incomes for individuals ages 25 to 34 have fallen 8 percent, double the adult population's total drop, since the recession began in December 2007. Ref. Source 5
Hiring ended the year with a modest gain of 155,000 jobs added in December, according to the latest monthly jobs report. The unemployment rate was 7.8%, the same level as the month before, the U.S. Department of Labor said today. Economists had expected a gain of about 150,000 jobs -- in line with the overall monthly average over the past year. Ref. CNN
U.S. Public schools cut 11,000 jobs in December
Local U.S. Governments cut jobs for the fourth straight month in December, including 11,000 in public schools, dragging down the nation's fragile economic recovery, jobs data showed on Friday. Ref. Source 9