Job creation

Obama Shifts Focus to Jobs

President Barack Obama leaves behind scandal-focused Washington to focus on the country's slowly improving jobs picture.

New Tax Credit Exchange Sheds Light in a Dark Economic Corner

Many state and local governments offer businesses tax credits to give them an incentive to create jobs. A good deal -- unless your company's tax bill is already too low for tax credits to help. Enter, the new Online Incentives Exchange -- a place where companies can turn those credits into cash.

Initial Jobless Claims Fall Again as Hurricane Sandy's Impact Fades

The number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits dropped for a second straight week last week, unwinding some of the surge related to Hurricane Sandy, which has muddled the labor market picture. Initial claims dropped 23,000 to a seasonally adjusted 393,000.

Initial Jobless Claims Jump, Hurricane Sandy Blamed

The number of Americans filing new claims for jobless benefits surged by 78,000 to a seasonally adjusted 439,000 last week, a 1.5-year high and a sign that superstorm Sandy dented the U.S. economy by leaving tens of thousands of people out of work.

Unemployment Rates Fall in 7 Swing States

Unemployment rates fell or held steady last month in nine key swing states at the center of this year's presidential election. Rates dropped in Ohio, Florida, Wisconsin, Colorado, Iowa, Nevada and North Carolina. They were unchanged in New Hampshire and Virginia.

Economy by the Numbers: Are We Better Off Than We Were in 2008?

This fall, as Americans prepare to mark their ballots, Republicans are hoping that voters' minds will be focused on one (and only one) simple question: Are you better off today than you were four years ago? Unfortunately for the GOP, the answer isn't quite as clear as they'd like.

Fifty Shades of Stimulus: How Smut Is Heating Up the Economy

When politicians talk about "job creators," they usually mean big industries and prominent industrialists. But the Fifty Shades of Grey phenomenon has shown that job creation -- and stimulus -- can come from some very odd quarters, and impact the economy in unusual places. In the last six months, the erotic novel Fifty Shades of Grey

Stocks Weaken Despite Strong December Jobs Report

Stocks are opening slightly lower despite a government report that the unemployment rate dropped in December to the lowest level in nearly three years. The Labor Department said early Friday that the unemployment rate fell last month to 8.5%, while U.S. employers added a net 200,000 jobs.

Reports Show Much Improved Jobs Picture For October

The nation's struggling jobs picture continued to improve in October, despite ongoing concern about the anemic economic recovery, two reports showed Wednesday. Private employers in the U.S. added 110,000 jobs last month, according to the ADP National Employment Report, more than the 101,000 analysts expected, Reuters reported.

Tea Party Rep. Spends Big Bucks to Feed His Family

What do Tea Partiers feed their families? On Monday, Rep. John Fleming (R-La.), met with MSNBC's Chris Jansing to discuss President Obama's proposed tax hikes on the wealthy. Rep. Fleming only brings home $600,000 a year, and his explanation of why that just isn't enough offers an interesting glimpse into the world of Tea Party economic theory.

ADP Bets on Small Business Growth to Offset Jobs

As the creation of new jobs slows and layoffs continue, small businesses keep hiring. ADP is betting those companies will continue to buck the trend. It's setting up new services to capitalize on that growth.

The Texas Surge: Is America Headed South?

For more than two centuries, the Census Bureau has plotted America's population center, mapping a steady progression of westward and southward growth. With a boom in Texas and busts on the coasts sending the center South, what does the new center say about the nation's future?

10 Hard Facts About America's Economic Recovery

As President Obama took part in his first-ever Twitter-facilitated town hall, jobs and the economy were high on the agenda. In line with those themes, the nonpartisan Economic Policy Institute held a little get-together of its own to outline 10 key facts about the recovery and what's really wrong with the economy.

Another Rough Summer Ahead for Teen Jobs

Teens hoping for employment this summer aren't likely to find the job market much better than last year, when teenage job seekers experienced the weakest seasonal market in decades.

A Growing Role for Tourism in Sustainable Development

In a somewhat surprising report, The U.N. Environment Programme says one of the most promising green industries -- at least when it comes to creating economic growth, reducing poverty, fueling job creation and addressing major environmental challenges -- turns out to be tourism.

With Job Openings Falling, Trouble Could Be Coming

Two sets of labor statistics data, released this week, point to a divergence between the job-openings rate and the total number of employees on nonfarm payrolls. And that divergence may well serve as a leading indicator for the labor market as a whole.

What's the Real Unemployment Number?

In January, job creation was anemic, yet unemployment plummeted. What gives? The answer lies in the quirky way the government decides who gets counted as part of the work force, who gets counted as officially unemployed and who gets left out of the picture.

Where the Signs Point to a Strengthening U.S. Economy

If you glanced at just one or two headlines from last week's reports on the U.S. economy, you might have concluded that things haven't changed that much. In fact, digging deeper reveals that business conditions are improving. Even the puzzling payroll report has hopeful indicators.

What's Really Ailing Employment: Lack of Demand

Many people blame America's high unemployment rate on a mismatch between workers' skills and the fields with open jobs. But jobs are scarce across all sectors. That means effective policies are needed to stimulate demand and rebuild economic output.