Jul 03 A better-than-expected birthday present for U.S. in June jobs report By Simone Pathe Despite concerns about sluggish growth in the first quarter of 2014, the unemployment rate dropped to its lowest level since the collapse of Lehman Brothers in 2008, and the economy added more than 200,000 jobs for the fifth straight month… Continue reading
Jun 18 Children cost an hour of leisure every day By Sarah McHaney Employed adults in a household with children under six spend a full hour less per day on leisure activities than other employed adults. This is according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ annual report on how Americans spend their time. Continue reading
May 02 Where are the April showers in the jobs report? By Paul Solman April's jobs report looks sunny: the lowest unemployment rate since fall 2008 and more jobs added to the economy than expected. But don't hang up the umbrellas just yet: nearly a million more people in April than in March told… Continue reading
May 02 Unemployment rate drops to lowest since fall 2008 By Simone Pathe The unemployment rate dropped to its lowest since September 2008, and the economy added 288,000 jobs last month, but about 800,000 people dropped out of the labor force. Our more inclusive Solman Scale also fell to 14.38 percent. Continue reading
Apr 04 Part-timers are the dark side of the bright jobs numbers By Paul Solman The economy added a healthy 192,000 jobs in March, but what's worrisome, Paul Solman explains, is the rise in the number of people working part time because they couldn't find a full-time job. Continue reading
Mar 07 Why economists take out their own trash before the monthly jobs report By Karen Kosanovich, Julie Hatch Maxfield On "jobs Friday," Making Sense speaks with two Bureau of Labor Statistics economists about what it's like to prepare one of the most closely-watched, and guarded, economic indicators in America. Continue reading
Mar 06 How counting the unemployed started as a progressive reform By Zachary Karabell Economists and the media use the monthly jobs numbers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics to take the pulse of our economy. But the collection of that data actually grew out of a progressive reform movement to asses the plight… Continue reading
Feb 21 Too many college grads? Or too few? By Anthony Carnevale, Nicole Smith, Jeff Strohl Don't believe the statistics that point to the stagnant demand for college-educated workers; college attendance is still an advantage in the labor market, and suggesting otherwise only discourages those who could benefit most from going to college. Continue reading
May 03 Watch The Pros and Cons of Life As A Jobless Single Dad The Pros and Cons of Life As A Jobless Single Dad… Continue watching
Nov 05 Solman Answers Reader Questions on Latest Job Numbers By Paul Solman A flurry of questions today about the October job report from NewsHour's Facebook and Twitter. In response, a flurry of answers. ........................................................................................................................................... Janet Vetter: The economy added 150,000 jobs but the unemployment rate remained the same? What… Continue reading