News on Job Growth

Canada's unemployment rate drops

2010-03-12T06:30:11Z

<div id="subtitle">Canada adds 21,000 jobs as unemployment rate slides to 8.2 percent</div><div><p>Canada's unemployment rate has slipped to 8.2 percent as the economy gained 21,000 jobs.</p><p>Statistics Canada said Friday full-time jobs rose by 60,000 in February. That was partially offset by a loss of 39,000 part-time positions. Economists had been ...

Obama lobbied on black unemployment, immigration

2010-03-11T15:45:13Z

<div><p>WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama on Thursday faced pressure to help create jobs in African-American communities and deliver an immigration overhaul even as he tried to push healthcare reform across the finish line.</p><p>Back-to-back White House meetings with representat...

Obama launches export-doubling strategy

2010-03-11T13:15:31Z

<div><p>President Barack Obama put into action Thursday an ambitious strategy to double US exports by prising open lucrative emerging markets in a bid to ease unemployment amid fragile economic recovery.</p><p>The leader signed an executive order to "marshal the full resources of the United States government behind American businesses that sell their goods and...

First-time jobless claims drop slightly last week

2010-03-11T09:00:06Z

<div id="subtitle">New unemployment claims drop last week but remain above levels that signal job growth</div><div><p>The number of newly laid-off workers requesting unemployment benefits slipped last week, but remains above the level many economists say would signal new hiring.</p><p>The four-week average of claims, which smooths volatility, rose to its highest level since November, reflecting a large jump in claims last month.</p><p>"The economy ...

Senate passes $149 billion for jobless aid

2010-03-10T21:00:26Z

<div><p>WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate on Wednesday passed a $149 billion package of jobless aid and tax breaks, as Democrats continued efforts to lower the 9.7 percent unemployment rate before congressional elections in November.</p><p>The measure, approved by a vote of 62 to 36, now heads to the Australia's unemployment rate rose slightly to 5.3 percent in February from January's revised 5.2 percent, with just 400 new jobs created, official data showed on Thursday.</p><p>The figure, which was in line with forecasts, came after 11,400 full-time jobs were created, offset by the loss of 11,000 part-time positions, the Au...

Summary Box: Unemployment rises in 30 states

2010-03-10T12:30:32Z

<div id="subtitle">Summary Box: Unemployment rates rise in 30 states as joblessness remains widespread</div><div><p>JOBS SCARCE: The unemployment rate rose in 30 states in January, the Labor Department said Wednesday, as jobs remain scarce across the country.</p><p>SOME JOB CREATION: There were signs of job creation. Thirty-one states added jobs, the department said, though in many cases it wasn't enough to lower the unemployment rate.</p><p>SNOW J...

Unemployment rises in 30 states in January

2010-03-10T10:01:16Z

<div id="subtitle">Unemployment rate rises in 30 states in January as joblessness remains widespread</div><div><p>Unemployment rose in 30 states in January, the Labor Department said Wednesday, evidence that jobs remain scarce in most regions of the country.</p><p>The data is somewhat better than December, when 43 states reported higher unemployment rates, but worse than November, when rates fell in most states.</p><p>Still, five states reported re...

Job openings up sharply in January to 2.7M

2010-03-09T15:46:09Z

<div id="subtitle">Job openings up sharply in January, evidence that employers may soon boost hiring</div><div><p>Job openings rose sharply earlier this year, evidence that employers are slowly ramping up hiring as the economy improves.</p><p>The number of openings in January rose about 7.6 percent, to 2.7 million, compared with December, the Labor Department said. That's the highest total since February 2009.</p><p>The report is a sign that the ec...

W.House's Romer: Too soon for spending clamp-down

2010-03-09T13:16:30Z

<div><p>ARLINGTON, Virginia (Reuters) - Clamping down on spending now to cut the gaping U.S. budget deficit would be "pound-foolish" and derail the economic recovery, a top White House economic adviser said on Tuesday.</p><p>"Immediate fiscal...

Employment data lift hopes but where are the jobs?

2010-03-05T14:46:06Z

<div id="subtitle">Jobs crisis seems to ease: Unemployment holds steady, employers make fewer cuts than expected</div><div><p>At last, the unemployment crisis seems to be easing. That's the good news.</p><p>The bad news? Job creation remains scant because companies still lack enough confidence in the economy to ramp up hiring.</p><p>The U.S. jobless rate held steady at 9.7 percent in Februar...

Economy 101: Hiring index nears turning point

2010-03-05T14:18:22Z

<div id="subtitle">Economy 101: Index that measures the breadth of hiring nears a turning point</div><div><p>An index that measures the breadth of hiring among private industries is nearing a turning point that could signal consistent job gains.</p><p>The index is part of the government's monthly employment report. Its rise is evidence that the job market is headed in the right direction — though at a painfully slow pace.</p><p>The Labor Department...

Summary Box: Unemployment rate remains at 9.7 pct.

2010-03-05T12:32:11Z

<div id="subtitle">Summary Box: Steady jobless rate points to slowly improving employment picture</div><div><p>WORST OVER?: The jobless rate held at 9.7 percent in February, and the economy lost a net 36,000 jobs, a better-than-expected showing. Some economists had predicted deeper job cuts due to severe snowstorms.</p><p>BETTER DAYS AHEAD: The report pointed to slow improvements. Some think the economy could start adding jobs steadily, starting with the repor...

US unemployment rate steady at 9.7 percent despite storms

2010-03-05T11:18:11Z

<div><p>The United States lost fewer jobs than expected in February and the unemployment rate held at 9.7 percent, the government said Friday, cautioning the data may be skewed by winter storms.</p><p>The Labor Department said that nonfarm payroll employment fell by 36,000 jobs, surprising most analysts who estimated 67,000 losses amid severe winter weather that crippled the northeast.</p><p>The January...

US unemployment rate steady at 9.7% despite storms

2010-03-05T09:50:23Z

House OKs $15 billion jobs bill

2010-03-04T13:45:11Z

<div><p>WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Congressional Democrats made headway on Thursday on their top legislative priority -- job creation -- when the House of Representatives approved a $15 billion package of tax credits and highway construction.</p><p>The 217 to 201 vote gave Obama administration to suspend an economic stimulus program aimed at financing renewable energy, complaining that money is going to projects that are creating jobs in foreign countries.</p><p>"We can't jump-start our economy and pull ourselves out of t...

Obama proposes $3,000 home energy rebates

2010-03-02T12:17:02Z

<div><p>SAVANNAH, Georgia (Reuters) - President Barack Obama on Tuesday proposed rebates of up to $3,000 to help homeowners pay for the cost of making their homes more energy efficient as part of a $6 billion program to create jobs.</p><p>In his latest step to convince Americans he can...

Biden touts jobs created by stimulus in Florida

2010-03-01T10:45:21Z

<div id="subtitle">Biden admits frustration with the economy, tells Fla. construction workers stimulus is working</div><div><p>Vice President Joe Biden told construction workers he knows people are frustrated with the pace of economic recovery, but said Monday federal stimulus spending is working and even more jobs will be created as more transportation projects get started.<...

Jobs report critical after mixed economic data

2010-02-28T10:00:18Z

<div id="subtitle">Employment figures loom large as traders seek direction after string of mixed economic reports</div><div><p>Investors are seeking direction. Friday's report on employment could give them exactly what they want.</p><p>The Labor Department's monthly snapshot on employment has always been crucial for investors trying to figure out where the economy is headed. This month's report comes at a time when the market cannot figure out which direction ...