Unemployment Archives

Hiring in the US slows, yet employers added a solid 139,000 jobs in May

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. employers slowed hiring last month, but still added a solid 139,000 jobs amid uncertainty over Trump’s trade wars. The Department of Labor said Friday that hiring fell from a revised 147,000 in April. The unemployment rate stayed at 4.2%. Trump’s aggressive and unpredictable policies – especially his sweeping taxes on imports – have muddied the outlook for the economy and the job market and raised fears that the American economy could be headed toward recession. But so far the damage hasn’t shown up clearly in government economic data.… Continue Reading

Stock market today: Wall Street drifts around its records following latest encouraging economic data

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks drifted around their record heights following the latest signals that the U.S. economy continues to hum. The S&P 500 finished Thursday virtually unchanged after flirting with its all-time high for much of the day. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 161 points, or 0.4%, to its own record set the day before, while the Nasdaq composite was close to flat. Gains for chip stocks and Travelers following strong profit reports helped to offset losses for Alphabet and Elevance Health. Treasury yields rose in the bond market after reports showed U.S. shoppers spent more at retailers and fewer workers applied for unemployment.… Continue Reading

US adds a robust 254,000 jobs and unemployment dips to 4.1% in sign of still-sturdy labor market

WASHINGTON (AP) — America’s employers added a surprisingly strong 254,000 jobs in September, easing concerns about a weakening labor market and suggesting that the pace of hiring is still solid enough to support a growing economy. Last month’s gain was far more than economists had expected, and it was up sharply from the 159,000 jobs that were added in August. And after rising for most of 2024, the unemployment rate dropped for a second straight month, from 4.2% in August to 4.1% in September. The latest figures suggest that many companies are still confident enough to fill jobs despite the continued pressure of high interest rates. Few employers are laying off workers, though many have grown more cautious about hiring.… Continue Reading