unemployment

People leaving prison have a hard time getting jobs. The pandemic has made things worse

By Justin Stabley

In the best of economic times, formerly incarcerated people face an uphill battle to find full-time employment, facing administrative hurdles, social stigma and emotional health issues from their time in prison.

As nationwide unemployment grows, Rhode Island steps in to help residents find work

By Paul Solman, Lee Koromvokis

This week marked the 52nd straight week of high unemployment claims, with numbers rising as more than a million people filed for state and emergency federal unemployment benefits across the country. One state, Rhode Island, is working to reverse that…

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When to expect payments, other benefits from COVID-19 relief package

By Sarah Skidmore Sell, Associated Press

The $1.9 trillion federal pandemic relief package is expected to make its way through the House and hit President Joe Biden's desk soon. But when will the benefits reach you?…

Biden directive expands jobless aid to more unemployed

By Christopher Rugaber, Associated Press

Those eligible include people who have turned down job offers because they believed the employers weren't providing sufficient protection from the coronavirus.

Federal Reserve sees modest pickup in hiring this month

By Christopher Rugaber, Associated Press

The Federal Reserve says there’s evidence that hiring has picked up in recent weeks, though the job market remains badly damaged by the pandemic.

Amid systemic inequality, U.S. salaries recover even as jobs haven’t

By Christopher Rugaber, Associated Press

The turnaround in total wages underscores how disproportionately America's job losses have afflicted workers in lower-income occupations.

GOP attacks Dems’ $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill from all angles

By Alan Fram, Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar, Kevin Freking, Associated Press

The package would provide $1,400 payments to some Americans, hundreds of billions for state and local governments and boost vaccination efforts, raise tax credits for children and increase unemployment benefits.

Powell stresses commitment to full employment and low rates

By Christopher Rugaber, Associated Press

Powell spent little time on inflation in prepared remarks for a webcast to the Economic Club of New York.

A meager gain in U.S. jobs last month highlights virus’ damage

By Christopher Rugaber, Associated Press

The increase of just 49,000 positions in January made scarcely any dent in the nearly 10 million jobs that remain lost since the virus intensified nearly a year ago.

U.S. employers add just 49,000 jobs as unemployment falls to 6.3 percent

By Christopher Rugaber, Associated Press

U.S employers added just 49,000 jobs in January, a sign that that the viral pandemic retains a tight grip on the economy nearly a year after it triggered a painful recession.