Unemployment Rates Drop in 2/3 of States

WASHINGTON— Unemployment rates fell in two-thirds of U.S. states last month, evidence that modest economic growth is boosting hiring in most areas of the country.

And in many states, unemployment has fallen well below the national average, which was 8.1 percent last month. Rates were lower than 7 percent in 22 states in April. That compares to only 13 states in April 2011.

Applications for Unemployment Benefits Dip by 1,000

Job seekers stand line during the Career Expo job fair Wednesday, March 7, 2012, in Portland, Ore.

(WASHINGTON) — The number of people applying for U.S. unemployment benefits ticked down last week after dropping sharply the previous week, evidence hiring could pick up this month. Weekly applications dropped 1,000 to a seasonally adjusted 367,000 in the week ending May 5, the Labor Department said Thursday. The previous week’s figure was revised up [...]

Why Aren’t There More Jobs?

Job seekers stand line during the Career Expo job fair Wednesday, March 7, 2012, in Portland, Ore.

Mediocre growth, overly cautious corporations and government cutbacks figure to stifle employment gains until there is some comprehensive economic policy

Amid Mixed Data, Economists Look For At Least 160K New Jobs in April

Andrew Burton / Reuters

The Labor Department’s April jobs report will be released Friday, and should provide an important data point about the health of the U.S. economy. Economists, investors, policy-makers, politicians and the general public will be watching closely to see how many jobs the U.S. economy added last month, and whether the unemployment rate stayed level or [...]

Why We Should Worry About Spain’s Economic Pain

Protesters raise their fists as they sing "The Internationale" during a May Day demonstration on Labour Day in central Madrid May 1, 2012.

Two years ago this month I was in Madrid reporting a story on the troubles of the Spanish economy and what they meant for Europe and its debt crisis. And here I am today writing about the troubles of the Spanish economy and what they mean for Europe and its debt crisis. I usually don’t [...]

Spring Slowdown: Is the U.S. Economic Recovery Stalling?

Eddie Seal / Bloomberg / Getty Images

The disappointing economic growth figures released Friday by the federal government have raised the possibility that the U.S. recovery might be stalling — just when it appeared poised to achieve “escape velocity.

QE3 Watch: Will Slowing Jobs Picture Spur More Fed Stimulus?

Andrew Harrer / Bloomberg / Getty Images

Job growth in March was disappointing. Do Fed policymakers feel the stalling jobs picture warrants a third round of Fed monetary stimulus, or quantitative easing (QE3)?

Report: Private Sector Adds 209,000 Jobs in March

A job seeker passes by the registration booths during a career fair at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center September 27, 2011 in Washington, DC. (Photo: Alex Wong / Getty Images)

The private sector added 209,000 jobs in March, according to an analysis from the payroll services firm ADP. The report also noted that the economy added 23,000 more jobs in the first two months of 2012 than ADP had previously estimated. The news is ahead of  Friday’s employment situation report, when the Labor Department will [...]

Bernanke’s Speech Has the Market Buzzing with QE3 Hopes

Alex Wong / Getty Images

The U.S. economy needs to grow faster to maintain job market momentum, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said in a speech Monday; as a result, the Fed will continue its low-interest rate policy, hoping to spur consumer demand and business investment. Stocks rose on Bernanke’s comments, with some on Wall Street reading hints about a [...]

Why Men Will Continue to Dominate the Jobs Recovery

SuperStock / Getty Images

Men might have lost more jobs during the recession than women did — but a new report shows that it’s women who are struggling more in the financial recovery.