Author Archive
-
Jobless Bill Clears Key Senate Vote in Squeaker
A bill to revive extended unemployment benefits squeaked through its first procedural vote 60-37, a narrow win that outlets including Politico are characterizing as a surprise. Six moderate Republican senators voted with Democrats to renew the recently expired benefits: Kelly Ayotte, Susan Collins, Dan Coats, Dean Heller, Lisa Murkowski, and... Go to Source Author: Kevin Spak
-
Dems Raising a Ruckus Over Jobless Benefits
President Obama plans to climb the bully pulpit this week and hammer Congress—but really, just congressional Republicans—for failing to extend long-term unemployment benefits. The White House has concocted a plan to keep the issue in the news on a daily basis, Politico reports. Tomorrow, Obama will invite a... Go to Source Author: Kevin Spak
-
Unemployment Down to 7%
Today's jobs report beat expectations, with 203,000 new jobs added in November and the unemployment rate sliding to 7.0%. Economists had expected 180,000 new jobs and an unemployment rate of 7.2%, down from October's 7.3%, the Wall Street Journal reports. The unemployment rate is at... Go to Source Author: Evann Gastaldo
-
For 2M Jobless, Benefits Set to Dry Up
Some 1.3 million Americans could lose their unemployment benefits at the end of the year, with another 850,000 seeing benefits expire in March 2014 if Congress doesn't extend an emergency plan that ends Dec. 31. And though congressional Democrats and the White House are urging an extension, it's... Go to Source Author: Matt Cantor
-
More Women Working Now Than Before Recession
The number of women in the US workforce has hit a record 67.5 million—meaning more women are working now than were before the recession, the Wall Street Journal reports. The previous record for women was 67.4 million in 2008, Labor Department figures say; meanwhile, men haven't yet... Go to Source Author: Matt Cantor
-
At NJ Fire Dept., Veterans Go to Head of Line
Unemployment is a big problem for veterans, so New Jersey's North Hudson Fire Department is doing what it can to help: The department has hired 43 veterans this year, and the fire chief says he plans to hire 10 to 20 more in the near future. The vets who are... Go to Source Author: Evann Gastaldo
-
October Jobs Report Surprisingly Strong
Last month's government shutdown was supposed to throw a wet blanket on this morning's jobs numbers, but they turned out to be fairly strong. The economy added 204,000 jobs in October, almost double what analysts expected, reports the AP , which calls it an "unexpected burst of hiring." The unemployment... Go to Source Author: John Johnson
-
Unemployment Drops to 7.2%
The September jobs report is out today, delayed thanks to the government shutdown, and it reveals that the unemployment rate ticked down to 7.2% last month, while 148,000 jobs were added. Economists had expected the rate to hold steady at 7.3%, the Wall Street Journal notes, but... Go to Source Author: Evann Gastaldo
-
Today’s Jobs Report ‘Pretty Meh’
The unemployment rate fell to 7.3% in August, and 169,000 jobs were added, today's jobs report reveals. The rate had been expected to hold steady at 7.4%, but 175,000 new jobs were expected. On the decidedly bad-news front, the number of new jobs added in July... Go to Source Author: Evann Gastaldo
-
Unemployment Falls to 7.4%, a 4-Year Low
Unemployment fell to a 4.5-year low of 7.4% in July, after employers added 162,000 jobs, the Labor Department announced today. But don't celebrate. That 162,000 figure was the lowest since March, and significantly less than analysts were expecting—those surveyed by Bloomberg expected to see a... Go to Source Author: Kevin Spak
