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It's All Politics
Good January Jobs News, Yes, But Still Much Time Before Election Day
February 3, 2012 As encouraging as the jobs report was for January 2012, it still is only the start of this general-election year. That means the jobless rate now will likely have less to do with what happens in the congressional and presidential races than where it stands in October.
The Two-Way
Unemployment Rate Edges Down To 8.3 Percent
February 3, 2012 Private employers added 257,000 jobs to their payrolls, the Bureau of Labor Statistics also says. A slight drop in employment at government agencies brought the overall gain in jobs down to 243,000.
The Two-Way
Jobless Rate Dips To 8.5 Percent, 200,000 Jobs Added To Payrolls
January 6, 2012 The unemployment rate is near a three-year low and there were 1.9 million private-sector jobs added to payrolls last year, the Bureau of Labor Statistics says.
The Two-Way
Coming Up: December Jobs And Unemployment Report
January 6, 2012 The most-anticipated story of the morning seems to be the December jobs and unemployment report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which is due for release at 8:30 a.m. ET.
It's All Politics
What Does Surprise Jobless Rate Drop Mean For Obama And 2012?
December 2, 2011 News of a fairly dramatic month-to-month drop in the jobless rate in November, down to 8.6 percent from 9 percent the month before, is guaranteed to trigger a feverish round of speculation as to what it means for the 2012 general election. At first blush, it seems like good news for those Americans getting work and for those hoping to keep their jobs, first and foremost President Obama.
The Two-Way
Unemployment Rate Drops To 8.6 Percent
December 2, 2011 The highly anticipated news brought a surprise: The unemployment rate had been expected to stay at 9 percent. But it fell in part because of an increase in the number of "discouraged" workers. They've given up looking for jobs.
The Two-Way
Unemployment Rate Dips To 9 Percent; 80,000 Jobs Added
November 4, 2011 The jobless rate had been 9.1 percent in September. The gain in payrolls was modest.
The Two-Way
Jobs Report May Offer Glimmer Of Good News
November 4, 2011 The general consensus among economists is that there were about 95,000 jobs added to payrolls in October and that the unemployment rate stayed at 9.1 percent. While "frustratingly slow," that could be another sign the economy is on the mend.
The Two-Way
Jobless Claims Dip Below 400,000
November 3, 2011 At 397,000, claims were down 9,000 from the previous week. That signals some improvement in the labor market. We'll get more data Friday when the government reports on the October unemployment rate.
The Two-Way
Jobless Rate Stays At 9.1 Percent; 103,000 Jobs Added
October 7, 2011 Economists were expecting to hear that the jobless rate remained unchanged. The job growth figure is slightly better than was forecast.
The Two-Way
Job Growth Halts; Unemployment Rate Stays At 9.1 Percent
September 2, 2011 The news comes as President Obama and his Republican rivals prepare their plans for boosting employment.
The Two-Way
Stocks Down In Anticipation Of Weak Jobs News
September 2, 2011 The August employment report, due for release at 8:30 a.m. ET, is expected to show that the jobless rate stayed at 9.1 percent and that fewer jobs were added to payrolls than in July.
The Two-Way
Obama Outlines Plan To Spur Hiring Of Veterans
August 5, 2011 In the next five years, more than 1 million military personnel will try to make the transition to the U.S. job market. And they might face a rocky path: The unemployment rate for post-Sept. 11 veterans is 13.3 percent — about 4 points higher than the national average.
The Two-Way
Unemployment Rate Edges Up To 9.2 Percent
July 8, 2011 Economists had expected better news. Private payrolls grew by just 57,000. Cuts at government agencies pulled the overall figure down even more. Previous months' job growth figures were revised down.
It's All Politics
Obama's Problem: Election And Economic Cycles Don't Align
June 3, 2011 For Obama, there just may not be enough time for the economy to turn around appreciably enough to help his re-election prospects. Election cycles just don't align with economic cycles.
