Aug 06 WATCH: Biden speaks on July job gains By Paul Wiseman, Associated Press The unemployment rate dropped to 5.4 percent as the U.S. economy continues to bounce back with surprising vigor from last year’s coronavirus shutdown. Continue reading
Jul 30 Worker pay rises strongly as businesses fight to fill jobs By Christopher Rugaber, Associated Press Wages and salaries rose at a healthy pace in the three months ended in June as employers competed to find enough workers to fill millions of available jobs. Continue reading
Jul 29 U.S. economy surpasses pre-pandemic level, but worker shortage persists By Martin Crutsinger, Associated Press Unemployment, at 5.9 percent, is still well above the 3.5 percent rate that prevailed before the pandemic struck. And the economy remains 6.8 million jobs short of its pre-pandemic total. Continue reading
Jul 22 U.S. jobless claims rise to 419,000 from a pandemic low By Christopher Rugaber, Associated Press The weekly number of first-time applications for benefits, which generally tracks layoffs, has fallen steadily since topping 900,000 in early January. Economists say the increase is most likely a blip caused by some one-time factors. Continue reading
Jul 12 Watch 9:04 The market controls child care costs in the U.S. Can that be changed? By Cat Wise, Emily Carpeaux, Murrey Jacobson, Kate McMahon During the pandemic, the federal government spent more than $50 billion to shore up the child care industry. But advocates say cost and access are still big hurdles. Over the past several months, special correspondent Cat Wise and producer Kate… Continue watching
Jul 02 Watch 4:53 News wrap: U.S. economy shows signs of rebound with 850,000 jobs added in June In our news wrap Friday, the U.S. Labor Department reported a net gain of 850,000 jobs in June — the most in 10 months. The World Health Organization warned the delta variant of the coronavirus has opened a dangerous new… Continue watching
Jul 02 WATCH: Biden speaks on latest gains in jobs report By Christopher Rugaber, Associated Press The report suggested that American workers are enjoying an upper hand in the job market as companies, desperate to staff up in a surging economy, dangle higher wages. Continue reading
Jul 01 U.S. jobless claims fall to 364,000, a new pandemic low By Paul Wiseman, Associated Press The number of Americans applying for unemployment aid fell again last week to the lowest level since the pandemic struck last year, further evidence that the job market and the broader economy are rebounding rapidly from the coronavirus recession. Continue reading
Jun 17 The pandemic forced millions out of a job. Some say they can’t return to the way things were By Courtney Vinopal Many Americans going back to work have been deeply changed by the pandemic, and some say the crisis has prompted them to rethink their careers, either by necessity or opportunity. Continue reading
Jun 11 Jobless claims in U.S. fall to 376,000, marking a sixth straight drop By Associated Press The number of people signing up for benefits exceeded 900,000 in early January and has fallen more or less steadily ever since. Still, claims are high by historic standards. Continue reading