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Aug. 16, 2023, 11:58 a.m.

Daily news lesson: Jobs report falls short of expectations but recession may be avoided

Summary

The U.S. economy added 187,000 jobs in July, slightly fewer than expected but still a sign of a resilient job market. The report also shows the unemployment rate dipped to 3.5 percent. This comes after several encouraging reports in the last two weeks on GDP and inflation. Special correspondent and Washington Post columnist Catherine Rampell joined Geoff Bennett to break it all down.

For a transcript of this story, click here

News wrap alternative: Check out recent segments from the NewsHour, and choose the story you’re most interested in watching. You can make a Google doc copy of discussion questions that work for any of the stories here.

Five Facts

  1. When was the last time job growth was this high?
  2. How many more interest rate hikes are anticipated this year?
  3. Why did people think women would be disproportionately affected by a recession?
  4. What group's labor force participation is at an all-time high?
  5. Where does Katelyn Jetelina work?
  6. Who is the Fed chairman?

Focus Questions

How much do you think the government should be involved in manipulating the economy?

News Analysis: Where else could you go to find out about the state of the economy and likely changes in the future?

Alternative: See, Think, Wonder: What did you notice? What did the story make you think? What story would you want to find out more about? 

For More

What students can do: Discuss — Why is the jobs report important? How does the employment rate matter to your life and your community?

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