job market

The number of people seeking unemployment benefits fell to the lowest point in almost four years last week, the latest signal that the job market is steadily improving. Weekly applications for unemployment benefits dropped 13,000 to a seasonally adjusted 348,000, the Labor Department said Thursday.

The number of people seeking unemployment benefits fell last week to a level that signaled a steadily improving job market. The figures came one day before the government is expected to report that January marked another solid month for hiring.

The number of people seeking unemployment benefits plummeted last week to 352,000, the fewest since April 2008. The decline added to evidence that the job market is strengthening. Applications fell 50,000, the biggest drop in the seasonally adjusted figure in more than six years, the Labor Department said Thursday.

The number of people applying for unemployment benefits dropped last week to its lowest level since April 2008, extending a downward trend that shows the job market strengthening. First-time applications for unemployment benefits fell 4,000 to a seasonally adjusted 364,000, the Labor Department said Thursday. It was the third straight weekly drop.

With the job market still in recovery, competition for employment is fiercer than ever. To stand out from other applicants, this year's college graduates should begin with their resumes. Here are some secrets on how to gain an edge from Peter Newfield, a former resume expert at Monster.com and...

As wages and benefits shrink, state workers are retiring in droves. On top of all the layoffs, these retirements amount to a huge brain drain, and the problem will only get worse given the yawning budget gaps of states from coast to coast.

There may be a few of you who find yourselves three months away from graduating, and staring into the jaws of a bear market. Are you scrambling to lock down an interview? Falling over yourself to complete career checklists to no avail? And all the while wondering: Does this mean I need to go to...

December%u2019s unexpected dip in consumer confidence shows both the impact of the deep 2007-2009 recession and the relationship of job creation to consumer attitudes.

Consumer sentiment inched higher again in December to its highest level in six months. The index's slow rise is consistent with a gradually-improving U.S. economy. Further, provided the economy generates a lot of jobs next year and the unemployment rate declines, look for consumer sentiment to rise further in 2011.

The slowly improving tone to the U.S. job market continued with last week's numbers for new unemployment claims. The less volatile four-week moving average also dropped again, to 422,750. That's its lowest level since August 2008.