U.S. unemployment claims drop in another sign of labor market resiliency
The claims are viewed as a proxy for layoffs and remain extraordinarily low by historical standards, signalling that most Americans enjoy unusual job security.
Unemployment
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2022 Year in Review: A year of ups, downs and uncertainty
The stock market dropped in 2022. So did the unemployment rate. Except in Indiana, where in both cases, the numbers crept up.
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IBJ Podcast: Indiana’s workforce leader talks unemployment, labor markets and minimum wage
Host Mason King talks with Fred Payne, commissioner of the Indiana Department of Workforce Development, about what the state is doing to help more Hoosiers find jobs and more companies find workers.
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The pandemic: One crisis, countless journeys
The pandemic hit Indiana one year ago, packing an emotional and financial wallop. Read the stories of 11 Hoosiers to see how they have navigated the choppy waters in business, in life and in loss.
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Indiana ‘missed big’ by not adopting work share, report says
Researchers who have studied work-share programs—which have been implemented in 28 states—say thousands of Indiana workers have been unnecessarily laid off.
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Articles
Applications for jobless benefits fall to lowest level in more than 8 months
Businesses continue to retain workers despite elevated interest rates meant to cool the economy and labor market.
U.S. job openings rose in August, defying expectations
The U.S. labor market remains strong despite higher interest rates—perhaps too strong for the inflation fighters at the Federal Reserve.
U.S. employers added 187,000 jobs in August
Last month’s job growth marked an increase from July’s revised gain of 157,000, but still pointed to a moderating pace of hiring compared with the sizzling gains of last year and earlier this year.
U.S. jobless claims fall as labor market shows resiliency
Economists say that given the difficulties in finding workers during the past two years, businesses will likely hold onto them as long as possible, even if the economy weakens.
U.S. employers added fewer-than-expected 187,000 jobs in July
Despite the influx of workers, average hourly wages rose 0.4% from June and 4.4% from a year earlier—numbers that were hotter than expected and are likely to worry the Federal Reserve.
Weekly applications for U.S. jobless aid tick up from 5-month low
While some industries—such as manufacturing, warehousing, and retail—have slowed their hiring in recent months, they aren’t yet cutting jobs in large numbers.
Weekly applications for jobless benefits slide to lowest level in 5 months
Despite the fastest interest rate hikes since 1989, the unemployment rate has hardly budged, remaining at a historically low 3.6%.
U.S. job openings dip, but remain high, showing resilience in labor market
U.S. employers have added a strong 314,000 jobs a month this year, and at 3.7% in May, the unemployment rate is not far off a half-century low.
Applications for jobless benefits in the U.S. retreat after three weeks of elevated claims
U.S. employers added a surprising 339,000 jobs last month, well above expectations, painting a mostly encouraging picture of the job market.
Number of Americans filing for jobless claims elevated for second straight week
The four-week moving average of claims, which flattens some of the week-to-week fluctuations, rose to its highest level since November 2021.
U.S. applications for jobless benefits highest since October 2021
Despite last week’s sharp increase in filings for unemployment aid, some analysts cautioned against concluding that layoffs are picking up across the economy.
Indiana’s unemployment rate shows monthly decline
The state’s labor force participation rate increased slightly, to 63.6%, in April and remains above the national rate.
Fewer Americans apply for jobless benefits as labor market still showing strength
Since the pandemic purge of millions of jobs three years ago, the U.S. economy has added jobs at a breakneck pace and Americans have enjoyed unusual job security.
Economy shows signs of cooling, with easing inflation, higher jobless claims
Applications for unemployment benefits climbed to a more than one-year high and wholesale inflation continued to moderate, adding to signs of softening in the economy.
U.S. adds a solid 253,000 jobs despite Fed’s rate hikes
April’s hiring gain compares with 165,000 in March and 248,000 in February and is still at a level considered vigorous by historical standards.
U.S. job openings dip to 9.6 million, lowest since 2021
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.
Black unemployment rate hits record low 5%
Black employment has benefited from the same forces that have helped all workers—a surge in labor market demand coming out of the pandemic fueled by federal stimulus, which has led to one of the fastest job recoveries on record.
U.S. adds 236,000 jobs; unemployment rate sinks to 3.5%
America’s employers added a solid 236,000 jobs in March, suggesting that the economy remains on solid footing despite the nine interest rate hikes the Federal Reserve has imposed over the past year in its drive to tame inflation.
U.S. jobless aid claims show weekly decline as layoffs remain low
The labor market continues to thrive despite the Federal Reserve’s efforts to cool the economy and tamp down inflation.