The US economy is about to break a record. These 11 charts show why
5 years, 7 months ago

The US economy is about to break a record. These 11 charts show why

CNN  

The US economy has been on the upswing for a very long time. Employment is booming The share of Americans who want a job and can’t find one, known as the unemployment rate, is one of the clearest indications that the US economy has returned to health. Many employers have added non-wage benefits like better health care and help repaying student loans, but those total compensation costs still haven’t topped the 3.5% year-over-year growth rates reached before the recession. Also, those gains have flowed disproportionately to people switching jobs — workers who stay with one employer for long periods of time still aren’t always getting regular raises. Although total mortgage debt has subsided — in part because so many people lost their homes through foreclosure after the financial crisis — Americans have racked up more credit card debt than ever and student debt has multiplied nearly sevenfold since the end of the recession, as people took refuge from a bad job market by going back to school.

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History of this topic

US job openings rise unexpectedly to 8.1 million in November, a sign the labor market is resilient
2 days, 4 hours ago

US job openings rise unexpectedly to 8.1 million in November, a sign the labor market is resilient

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — U.S. job openings rose unexpectedly in November, showing companies are still looking for workers even as the labor market has cooled overall. Openings rose to 8.1 million in November, the most since February and up from 7.8 million in October, the Labor Department reported Tuesday. When the Labor Department releases December hiring numbers on Friday, they’re expected to …

The American worker is becoming more productive
6 days, 15 hours ago

The American worker is becoming more productive

Live Mint  

America is getting better at getting things done. Companies learned new ways of doing things and adopted new technologies, while an upheaval in the labor market moved workers into more productive jobs. But America’s scope for expanding its labor force is limited: The population is increasing slowly, the baby-boom generation is retiring, and Trump has promised to heavily restrict immigration …

Job openings rose while hiring dropped in October, labor report shows
1 month ago

Job openings rose while hiring dropped in October, labor report shows

Salon  

Job openings and resignations increased substantially in October while the number of hires and layoffs dropped, according to a Tuesday report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics that showed a mixed picture of the U.S. labor market. The increased number of job openings appeared mostly in professional and business services, as well as service and IT industries, jumping by 372,000 …

U.S. Economy Grew At Healthy 2.8% Pace Last Quarter On Strength Of Consumer Spending
2 months, 1 week ago

U.S. Economy Grew At Healthy 2.8% Pace Last Quarter On Strength Of Consumer Spending

Huff Post  

LOADING ERROR LOADING WASHINGTON — The U.S. economy grew at a healthy 2.8% annual rate from July through September, with consumers helping drive growth despite the weight of still-high interest rates. Wednesday’s report from the Commerce Department said the gross domestic product — the economy’s total output of goods and services — slowed slightly from its 3% growth rate in …

The U.S. economy is growing solidly. Here's what's working — and what's not
2 months, 1 week ago

The U.S. economy is growing solidly. Here's what's working — and what's not

NPR  

The U.S. economy is growing solidly. Here's what's working — and what's not toggle caption Spencer Platt/Getty Images With just days before Election Day, the U.S. just got its latest economic report card — and it's good, even if many people don't feel that way. toggle caption Anna Rose Layden/Getty Images The healthy labor market and stronger spending bode well …

US Hiring Rebounds Slightly And Unemployment Rate Dips In Sign Of Still-Slowing Job Market
4 months ago

US Hiring Rebounds Slightly And Unemployment Rate Dips In Sign Of Still-Slowing Job Market

Huff Post  

A linesman works on power lines under the morning sun, July 12, 2024, in Phoenix. via Associated Press WASHINGTON — Hiring by America’s employers picked up a bit in August from July’s sluggish pace, and the unemployment rate dipped for the first time since March in a sign that the job market may be cooling but remains sturdy. In a …

FACT FOCUS: A look back at some of the questionable claims made during the Democratic convention
4 months, 2 weeks ago

FACT FOCUS: A look back at some of the questionable claims made during the Democratic convention

Associated Press  

The Democrats’ star-studded, four-day convention drew to a close as Vice President Kamala Harris accepted the party’s nomination for president. Trump’s views on an abortion ban VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS said Trump would “ban medication abortion and enact a nationwide abortion ban with or without Congress.” THE FACTS: While Trump has said in the past that he would support a …

US sharply lowers number of jobs added in year ending in March
4 months, 2 weeks ago

US sharply lowers number of jobs added in year ending in March

Al Jazeera  

Economists are divided on the extent of the rate cuts that the US Federal Reserve should undertake this year in light of the latest employment data. The revised total adds to evidence that the job market has been steadily slowing and likely reinforces the US Federal Reserve’s plan to start cutting interest rates soon. The downgraded estimate follows a jobs …

US labour market generates 206,000 jobs in June, unemployment rate increases to 4.1%
6 months ago

US labour market generates 206,000 jobs in June, unemployment rate increases to 4.1%

Hindustan Times  

The United States added 206,000 jobs in June, which was less than the previous month but still more than predicted. The US unemployment rate increased slightly from 4% to 4.1 percent, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics' report released on Friday. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics' report released on Friday, the US unemployment rate increased slightly from …

US job openings rise to 8.1 million despite higher interest rates
6 months ago

US job openings rise to 8.1 million despite higher interest rates

Hindustan Times  

U.S. job openings rose slightly to 8.1 million in May despite the impact of higher interest rates intended to cool the labor market. Vacancies rose from a revised 7.9 million in April, the first reading below 8 million since February 2021, the Labor Department reported Tuesday. The U.S. economy and job market have been remarkably resilient in the face of …

US job openings fall to 8.1 million, lowest since 2021, but remain at historically high levels
7 months ago

US job openings fall to 8.1 million, lowest since 2021, but remain at historically high levels

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — U.S. job openings fell in April to the lowest level since 2021. Monthly job openings have come down steadily a peak of 12.2 million in March 2022 — as the economy’s recovery from COVID-19 lockdowns left companies desperate for workers — but they remain at a high level. Fed policymakers likely welcome lower job openings — a relatively …

US job openings fall to 8.5 million in March, the lowest level in more than 3 years
8 months, 1 week ago

US job openings fall to 8.5 million in March, the lowest level in more than 3 years

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — U.S. jobs openings slid in March to the lowest level in more than three years, but stayed at historically high levels in a sign that the job market remains resilient in the face of higher interest rates. The Labor Department reported Wednesday that employers posted 8.5 million vacancies in March, down from 8.8 million in February and the …

Will the US unemployment rate continue at historic lows?
9 months ago

Will the US unemployment rate continue at historic lows?

Al Jazeera  

US job growth has continued at a steady clip in the months since the COVID-19 pandemic, but experts are looking for warning signs. All eyes will be on Friday’s US unemployment numbers to see how many jobs were added in March and whether the unemployment rate continues to stay in its historically low range or if it is time for …

Recession has struck some of the world’s top economies. The US keeps defying expectations
10 months, 3 weeks ago

Recession has struck some of the world’s top economies. The US keeps defying expectations

Associated Press  

NEW YORK — As some of the world’s biggest economies stumble into recession, the United States keeps chugging along. Yet in the United States, the economy motored ahead in last year’s fourth quarter for a sixth straight quarter of growth. It’s blown past many predictions coming into last year that a recession seemed inevitable because of high interest rates meant …

The US didn’t just avoid a recession — it’s adding hundreds of thousands of new jobs
11 months, 1 week ago

The US didn’t just avoid a recession — it’s adding hundreds of thousands of new jobs

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — The nation’s employers delivered a stunning burst of hiring to begin 2024, adding 353,000 jobs in January in the latest sign of the economy’s continuing ability to shrug off the highest interest rates in two decades. ‘’ This week, the Fed took note of the economy’s durability, with Chair Jerome Powell saying “the economy is performing well, the …

The U.S. didn’t just avoid a recession — it’s adding hundreds of thousands of new jobs
11 months, 1 week ago

The U.S. didn’t just avoid a recession — it’s adding hundreds of thousands of new jobs

LA Times  

A worker from Portland General Electric replaces a power line as crews work to restore power after a January storm in Oregon. “Today, we saw more proof, with another month of strong wage gains and employment gains of over 350,000 in January, continuing the strong growth from last year.” Business What rising immigration really means for California’s economy New data …

Report: US economy grew faster than any other G7 country last year
11 months, 1 week ago

Report: US economy grew faster than any other G7 country last year

Daily Mail  

America's economy is growing at a faster pace than any other G7 country in part thanks to a post-pandemic productivity boom, experts say. The IMF World Economic Outlook report estimates the US economy grew by 2.5 percent in 2023 - and is set for a similar 2.1 percent growth in 2024. Figures released today show US worker productivity grew at …

US job openings rose in December, pointing to a still-durable labor market
11 months, 1 week ago

US job openings rose in December, pointing to a still-durable labor market

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — America’s employers posted 9 million job openings in December, an increase from November and another sign that the U.S. job market remains resilient despite the headwind of higher interest rates. The U.S. economy and job market have remained surprisingly durable despite sharply higher interest rates, which have led to higher borrowing rates for consumers and businesses. Higher rates …

US economy grew by 3.3% over the past year - ending fears of recession and sending the S&P and Dow up
11 months, 2 weeks ago

US economy grew by 3.3% over the past year - ending fears of recession and sending the S&P and Dow up

Daily Mail  

Consumers and businesses have continued to spend despite high interest rates The US economy grew much faster than expected in the final three months of last year, trouncing expectations as consumers and businesses continued to spend. The US economy grew much faster than expected in the final three months of last year, trouncing expectations as consumers and businesses continued to …

US employers add a surprisingly strong 216,000 jobs in a sign of continued economic strength
1 year ago

US employers add a surprisingly strong 216,000 jobs in a sign of continued economic strength

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — The nation’s employers added a robust 216,000 jobs last month, the latest sign that the American labor market remains resilient even in the face of sharply higher interest rates. Asked why many Americans remain dissatisfied by the economy, Acting Labor Secretary Julie Su said Friday that “part of the unfortunate reality is we live in polarized times.’’ Many …

U.S. employers add a surprisingly strong 216,000 jobs in a sign of continued economic strength
1 year ago

U.S. employers add a surprisingly strong 216,000 jobs in a sign of continued economic strength

LA Times  

The nation’s labor market is still cranking out enough jobs to keep the unemployment rate near historic lows. The nation’s employers added a robust 216,000 jobs last month, the latest sign that the American job market remains resilient even in the face of sharply higher interest rates. The Fed is satisfied enough with the progress so far that it hasn’t …

Solid US hiring lowers unemployment rate in latest sign of a still-sturdy job market
1 year, 1 month ago

Solid US hiring lowers unemployment rate in latest sign of a still-sturdy job market

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — U.S. employers added a healthy 199,000 jobs last month and the unemployment rate fell, fresh signs that the economy could achieve an elusive “soft landing,” in which inflation would return to the Federal Reserve’s 2% target without causing a steep recession. “From my perspective,” Seyedian said, “the economy is still strong, and people still want to spend money.” …

US job openings fall to lowest level since March 2021 as labor market cools
1 year, 1 month ago

US job openings fall to lowest level since March 2021 as labor market cools

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — U.S. employers posted 8.7 million job openings in October, the fewest since March 2021, in a sign that hiring is cooling in the face of higher interest rates yet remains at a still-healthy pace. The drop in job openings last month was particularly steep in healthcare and social assistance, where they fell by 236,000; finance, which includes banking, …

U.S. job openings rise slightly to 9.6 million, sign of continued strength in the job market
1 year, 2 months ago

U.S. job openings rise slightly to 9.6 million, sign of continued strength in the job market

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — Employers posted 9.6 million job openings in September, up from 9.5 million in August and a sign that the U.S. job market remains strong even as the U.S. Federal Reserve attempts to cool the economy. Before 2021 — when the American economy began to surge from the COVID-19 pandemic — monthly job openings had never topped 8 million. …

A surge of hiring in September defies predictions, pointing to US job market’s enduring resilience
1 year, 3 months ago

A surge of hiring in September defies predictions, pointing to US job market’s enduring resilience

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — An unforeseen burst of hiring last month has lifted hopes that the economy will prove durable once again, even as an array of threats lie ahead. Friday’s government report raised hopes for a notoriously difficult “soft landing,” by which the Federal Reserve would manage to curb high inflation with a series of rate hikes without derailing the economy. …

U.S. employers added 336,000 jobs in September in a sign of economic resilience
1 year, 3 months ago

U.S. employers added 336,000 jobs in September in a sign of economic resilience

LA Times  

A FedEx driver makes deliveries in Palatine, Ill. Friday’s report from the Labor Department showed that the unemployment rate was unchanged at 3.8%, not far above a half-century low. The nation’s employers added 336,000 jobs in September, an unexpectedly robust gain that suggests that many companies remain confident enough to keep hiring despite high interest rates and a hazy outlook …

US economic growth for last quarter is revised down to a 2.1% annual rate
1 year, 4 months ago

US economic growth for last quarter is revised down to a 2.1% annual rate

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — The U.S. economy expanded at a 2.1% annual pace from April through June, showing continued resilience in the face of higher borrowing costs for consumers and businesses, the government said Wednesday in a downgrade from its initial estimate. The Commerce Department’s second estimate of growth last quarter marked a slight acceleration from a 2% annual growth rate from …

Hiring slowed in July, but U.S. employers added a still-solid 187,000 jobs
1 year, 5 months ago

Hiring slowed in July, but U.S. employers added a still-solid 187,000 jobs

LA Times  

Jose Viveros delivers beverages in Los Angeles’ Little Tokyo on July 27. U.S. employers added 187,000 jobs last month, fewer than expected, as higher interest rates continued to weigh on the economy. Increasingly, economists are expressing confidence that inflation fighters at the Fed can pull off a rare “soft landing” — raising interest rates just enough to rein in rising …

The US was just downgraded, but the jobs report will likely be strong
1 year, 5 months ago

The US was just downgraded, but the jobs report will likely be strong

CNN  

Minneapolis CNN — Despite Tuesday’s credit rating downgrade amid concerns about the challenges facing the United States, markets and economists are expecting another solid jobs report on Friday. “Usually, fiscal policy affects the labor market fairly slowly, but political crises have the potential to have a more immediate impact and if there’s a government shutdown or similar crisis in the …

The number of available jobs in the US just fell to its lowest level in more than two years
1 year, 5 months ago

The number of available jobs in the US just fell to its lowest level in more than two years

CNN  

Minneapolis CNN — Bit by bit, the US labor market is settling down from the rolling boil of the past three years: The number of job openings dipped to its lowest point in more than two years, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics released on Tuesday. “Both a recession and a soft landing look like this.” The …

The US labor market cooled off in June, adding just 209,000 jobs
1 year, 6 months ago

The US labor market cooled off in June, adding just 209,000 jobs

CNN  

Minneapolis CNN — The US job market cooled back down in June, adding just 209,000 jobs, and fueling optimism that the economy is on course to nail that elusive soft landing of lowering inflation without triggering a recession. The June job gains, released Friday by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, were nearly 100,000 positions below May’s stronger-than-expected showing of 306,000 …

U.S. job openings dip to 9.8 million but remain high, showing resilience in labor market
1 year, 6 months ago

U.S. job openings dip to 9.8 million but remain high, showing resilience in labor market

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — U.S. job openings slipped in May but remained at levels high enough to illustrate that the American labor market remains resilient in the face of sharply higher interest rates. Employers posted 9.8 million job vacancies, down from 10.3 million in April, the Labor Department said Thursday. The Labor Department’s Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey, “continues to reflect …

The temporary madness of modern politics: is our strongest market a harbinger of recession?
1 year, 6 months ago

The temporary madness of modern politics: is our strongest market a harbinger of recession?

ABC  

Stephen Hawking, the scientific genius who solved some of the deepest secrets of our universe, summed up the fundamental problems facing modern economists. Rates and jobs part ways Not so long ago, in time before we were all sent home, the "natural rate" of unemployment was considered to be around 5 per cent. Inflation didn't immediately take off after Australia's …

Amazingly, the U.S. job market continues to roar. Here are the 5 things to know
1 year, 7 months ago

Amazingly, the U.S. job market continues to roar. Here are the 5 things to know

NPR  

Amazingly, the U.S. job market continues to roar. The latest employment report from the Labor Department showed the country's job market remained red hot, with 339,000 jobs added in May. In addition to last month's big number, job growth for March and April – which were already pretty solid – were revised even higher, by a total of 93,000 jobs. …

US job openings hit 10.1 million and labor market still strong despite Fed efforts to cool economy
1 year, 7 months ago

US job openings hit 10.1 million and labor market still strong despite Fed efforts to cool economy

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — U.S. job openings rose unexpectedly in April, illustrating the resilience of the American labor market and complicating Federal Reserve efforts to fight inflation. Employers posted 10.1 million job openings last month, up from 9.7 million in March and the most since January, the Labor Department said Wednesday. Layoffs fell, but the number of people quitting their jobs — …

US job openings dip to 9.6 million, lowest since 2021
1 year, 8 months ago

US job openings dip to 9.6 million, lowest since 2021

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — U.S. job openings fell in March to the lowest level in nearly two years, a sign that the American labor market is cooling in the face of higher interest rates. The Labor Department’s Job Openings and Labor Turnover Summary, out Tuesday, showed that layoffs rose to 1.8 million, the highest level since December 2020. The number of Americans …

January US job openings dip, but still high at 10.8 million
1 year, 10 months ago

January US job openings dip, but still high at 10.8 million

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — U.S. employers posted 10.8 million job openings in January, indicating the American job market continues to run too hot for the inflation fighters at the Federal Reserve. “The JOLTS report showed only a slight slowing in the robust labor market, keeping opportunities plentiful for workers looking for better, higher paying jobs,’ said Robert Frick, economist at Navy Federal …

Wait, layoffs and job growth? What’s going on with the economy and is recession still coming?
1 year, 11 months ago

Wait, layoffs and job growth? What’s going on with the economy and is recession still coming?

LA Times  

Only a few months ago many economists warned that a recession was not just inevitable, it was around the corner. But a funny thing happened on the way to hard times: The “Big R” for the U.S. economy now looks like it’s “Resilience,” not “Recession,” as economists at Bank of America recently put it. Instead of showing a slowdown in …

US job openings increase to five-month high, manufacturing slumps
1 year, 11 months ago

US job openings increase to five-month high, manufacturing slumps

Al Jazeera  

Gap between job openings and hiring suggests wage growth could remain high, an indicator that interest rates could rise. Job openings in the United States unexpectedly rose in December, showing demand for labour remains strong despite higher interest rates and mounting fears of a recession, which could keep the Federal Reserve on its policy tightening path. There were 1.9 job …

U.S. job growth solid, unemployment rate falls to 3.5%
2 years ago

U.S. job growth solid, unemployment rate falls to 3.5%

The Hindu  

The U.S. economy maintained a strong pace of job growth in December, with the unemployment rate falling to 3.5%, but higher borrowing costs as the Federal Reserve fights inflation could see the labour market momentum slowing significantly by mid-year. The government revised the seasonally adjusted data for the household survey, from which the unemployment rate is derived, for the last …

The U.S. job market is still healthy, but it's slowing down as recession fears mount
2 years ago

The U.S. job market is still healthy, but it's slowing down as recession fears mount

NPR  

The U.S. job market is still healthy, but it's slowing down as recession fears mount Enlarge this image toggle caption Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images The U.S. job market closed out 2022 on a high note. Employers added 223,000 jobs in December, capping a year in which the economy added 4.5 million jobs, more than refilling the deep hole …

US firms add 235,000 jobs, more than forecast
2 years ago

US firms add 235,000 jobs, more than forecast

Live Mint  

US companies added more jobs than expected in December, driven by small- and medium-sized businesses, and highlighting the resilience of labor demand that’s underpinning wage growth. Private payrolls increased 235,000 last month after an upwardly revised 182,000 in November, according to data from ADP Research Institute in collaboration with Stanford Digital Economy Lab. The largest companies cut 151,000 workers from …

US job openings stayed high in sign of economic resilience
2 years ago

US job openings stayed high in sign of economic resilience

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — U.S. job openings slipped in November but remained high, suggesting businesses are still determined to add workers, a blow to the Federal Reserve’s efforts to cool hiring and wage gains. Such a high number of job openings suggests the economy is not yet in recession or close to falling into one. “For Fed officials, these data support the …

US hiring stays strong, complicating Fed’s inflation fight
2 years, 1 month ago

US hiring stays strong, complicating Fed’s inflation fight

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — The nation’s employers kept hiring briskly in November despite high inflation and a slow-growing economy — a sign of resilience in the face of the Federal Reserve’s aggressive interest rate hikes. All year, as inflation has surged and the Fed has imposed ever-higher borrowing rates, America’s labor market has defied skeptics, adding hundreds of thousands of jobs, month …

US revises up last quarter’s economic growth to 2.9 percent
2 years, 1 month ago

US revises up last quarter’s economic growth to 2.9 percent

Al Jazeera  

Despite high interest rates and chronic inflation, the United States economy grew at a 2.9 percent annual rate from July through September, the government has said in a healthy upgrade from its initial estimate. Last quarter’s rise in the US gross domestic product – the economy’s total output of goods and services – followed two straight quarters of contraction. With …

US economy returned to growth last quarter, expanding 2.6%
2 years, 2 months ago

US economy returned to growth last quarter, expanding 2.6%

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — The U.S. economy grew at a 2.6% annual rate from July through September, snapping two straight quarters of contraction and overcoming high inflation and interest rates just as voting begins in midterm elections in which the economy’s health has emerged as a paramount issue. Stronger exports and consumer spending, backed by a healthy job market, helped restore growth …

U.S. Hiring Stayed Solid In September As Employers Add 263,000 Jobs
2 years, 3 months ago

U.S. Hiring Stayed Solid In September As Employers Add 263,000 Jobs

Huff Post  

LOADING ERROR LOADING WASHINGTON — America’s employers slowed their hiring in September but still added a solid 263,000 jobs — potentially hopeful news that may mean the Federal Reserve’s drive to cool the job market and ease inflation is starting to make progress. September’s slightly more moderate pace of hiring may be welcomed by the Fed, which is trying to …

US job openings sink as economy slows, cost to borrow rises
2 years, 3 months ago

US job openings sink as economy slows, cost to borrow rises

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — The number of available jobs in the U.S. plummeted in August compared with July as businesses grow less desperate for workers, a trend that could cool chronically high inflation. The report on job openings followed news that Australia’s central bank made an interest rate hike that was smaller than its previous increases, a rare sign of moderation as …

US job openings plummet amid higher rates, slower growth
2 years, 3 months ago

US job openings plummet amid higher rates, slower growth

Al Jazeera  

Layoffs in the US increased in August but still remained historically low, according to the Job Openings and Labor Turnover survey. Layoffs ticked up in August but remained at a historically low level, according to the report, known as the Job Openings and Labor Turnover survey, or JOLTS. The sharp drop in job openings will be welcomed by the Federal …

US economy shrank from April through June, second time in a row
2 years, 3 months ago

US economy shrank from April through June, second time in a row

Al Jazeera  

The United States economy continues to send mixed signals with some believing it is on the brink of a recession while others point to a stronger than usual jobs market. Battered by surging consumer prices and rising interest rates, the United States economy shrank at a 0.6 percent annual rate from April through June, the government has announced, unchanged from …

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