Aug 07 Why the jobs report data spell trouble for the Phillips curve By Kristen Doerer The Phillips curve assumes an inverse relationship between unemployment and inflation rates. But today, both inflation rates and unemployment are low, contradicting some long-held economic assumptions. Continue reading
Jul 02 Watch 5:16 Labor participation has hit a 38-year low, and that’s a problem By PBS News Hour In June, the U.S. economy added 223,000 jobs and unemployment fell to its lowest rate in seven years. But the proportion of Americans working or looking for work is now the smallest it’s been in nearly four decades, and wages… Continue watching
Jul 02 June’s unemployment dip means more Americans leaving the workforce By Kristen Doerer The numbers are in for June. The U.S. added 223,000 jobs and the unemployment rate dropped two tenths of a percent to rest at 5.3 percent. So why does economy still feel sluggish?… Continue reading
Jun 05 Jobs up, joblessness up: How can that be? One explanation By Kristen Doerer, Paul Solman The U.S. added 280,000 jobs in May, while the unemployment rate rose a tenth of a percent to settle at 5.5 percent. How do we reconcile May's numbers?… Continue reading
Apr 04 Watch What does March’s job market slowdown mean for wage growth? By PBS News Hour There was a bright spot in Good Friday's disappointing jobs report that revealed the number of jobs added fell well below expectations: Wages, stuck for so long, are finally starting to go up. The Wall Street Journal's Eric Morath joins… Continue watching
Apr 03 Watch 4:27 Do weaker U.S. jobs numbers suggest a downshifting economy? By PBS News Hour March put an end to a year-long streak of solid U.S. job growth. The Labor Department reported that employers added a net of just 126,000 jobs last month. Hari Sreenivasan talks to Diane Swonk of Mesirow Financial about what’s behind… Continue watching
Apr 03 Watch 5:07 News Wrap: Prisoner who spent 30 years on Alabama death row exonerated By PBS News Hour In our news wrap Friday, a man who spent nearly 30 years on Alabama’s death row walked out a free man after prosecutors admitted the only physical evidence of two murders did not link him to the crime. Also, Saudi… Continue watching
Apr 03 How much of March’s disappointing jobs report is just a blip? By Simone Pathe The economy added a disappointing 126,000 jobs in March. And while economists often caution that one month's data shouldn't be weighted too heavily, this latest jobs report comes on the heels of other news about slower economic growth. All of… Continue reading
Mar 06 Watch 6:39 Job gains continue, so why are wages stubbornly stagnant? By PBS News Hour February’s labor report came in with stronger growth than expected, with 295,000 jobs added last month and the lowest unemployment rate since the 2008 financial crisis. But wage growth continues to lag, with hourly earning rising just one tenth of… Continue watching
Mar 06 Wages are sore spot on strong February jobs report By Simone Pathe Despite harsh winter weather, the economy added 295,000 jobs in February and the unemployment rate fell to its lowest since mid-2008. Those are signs of a recovering labor market that the Federal Reserve might use to justify an interest rate… Continue reading