Unemployment Trends And Stats

WASHINGTON -- The number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits rose slightly last week, which could further allay fears of a major setback in the labor market recovery. Initial claims for state unemployment benefits increased 4,000 to a seasonally adjusted 352,000 the Labor Department said on...

Jin Lee/Bloomberg WASHINGTON -- The number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits fell more than expected last week, which could ease fears of a marked deterioration in labor market conditions after a surprise stumble in job growth in March. Initial claims for state unemployment benefits...

The March jobs numbers, released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics on Friday, were so dismal that Austan Goolsbee, former chairman of President Obama's Council of Economic Advisers, called them "a punch to the gut." The latest jobs report also shows how misleading the unemployment numbers can be. The jobless...

Jin Lee/Bloomberg By Jason Lange WASHINGTON -- American employers hired at the slowest pace in nine months in March, a sign that Washington's austerity drive could be stealing momentum from the economy. The economy added just 88,000 jobs last month and the jobless rate ticked a tenth of a point lower to 7.6...

The number of planned layoffs at U.S. firms fell in March but downsizing by retail companies still helped the first quarter rack up the largest amount of cuts in over a year, a report showed on Thursday. Employers announced 49,255 planned job cuts last month, down 11% from 55,356 in February, according to the...

WASHINGTON -- The number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits rose to its highest level in four months last week, suggesting the labor market recovery lost some steam in March. Initial claims for state unemployment benefits increased 28,000 to a seasonally adjusted 385,000, the highest level...

NEW YORK -- U.S. private employers added 158,000 jobs in March, the smallest gain in five months and falling short of analyst expectations, a report by a payrolls processor showed on Wednesday. Economists surveyed by Reuters had forecast the ADP National Employment Report would show a gain of 200,000 jobs. The...

By Charles Riley The recession in Europe grinds on. Official European Union figures published Tuesday showed unemployment in the eurozone hit a record high of 12.0% in February, and young people are paying a particularly heavy price.

WASHINGTON -- The number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits rose more than expected last week, but probably not enough to suggest the labor market recovery was taking a step back. Initial claims for state unemployment benefits increased 16,000 to a seasonally adjusted 357,000, the Labor...