joblessness
The number of people seeking unemployment aid neared a four-year low last week, a positive sign that strong hiring could continue in the coming months. The Labor Department said Thursday that weekly applications for unemployment benefits fell 15,000 to a seasonally adjusted 358,000. That's the second-lowest level since April 2008.
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.
A burst of hiring in December pushed the unemployment rate to its lowest level in nearly three years, giving the economy a boost at the end of 2011. The Labor Department said Friday that employers added a net 200,000 jobs last month and the unemployment rate fell to 8.5 percent, the lowest since February 2009. The rate has dropped for four straight months.
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.
Unemployment rates fell in 43 states in November, reflecting a modest pickup in the nation's job market. Nationally, the unemployment rate dropped in November to 8.6%, the lowest since March 2009.
Far fewer people are seeking unemployment benefits than just three months ago %u2014 a sign that layoffs are falling sharply. The number of people applying for benefits fell last week to 366,000, the fewest since May 2008. If the number stayed that low consistently, it would likely signal that hiring is strong enough to lower unemployment.
The unemployment rate fell last month to its lowest level in more than two and a half years, as employers stepped up hiring in response to the slowly improving economy. The Labor Department says the unemployment rate dropped sharply to 8.6 percent last month, down from 9 percent in October. The rate hasn't been that low since March 2009.
Unemployment rates fell in three-quarters of U.S. states last month, a sign that many parts of the country are experiencing modest job gains. The Labor Department says unemployment rates fell in 36 states in October and rose in only 5. Rates were unchanged in 9 states. That's the best showing since April, when rates fell in 39 states.
The number of people applying for unemployment benefits fell last week to the lowest level since early April, a sign that layoffs are easing and hiring may pick up. Weekly applications dropped by 5,000 to a seasonally adjusted 388,000, the Labor Department said Thursday. It was the fourth decline in five weeks.
Many of you reached out to Daily Finance earlier this week, after we ran a report on long-term unemployment's impact on older workers. Readers shared stories of careers terminated, benefits exhausted, and savings consumed. Today's news about slight improvements in the unemployment rate bring little relief.
More Stories
Next Page →Market Movers
| Symbol | Last | Change / % | Volume |
|---|
Most Actives
| 8.11 | -0.08 -0.92% | 127.06M | |
| 2.20 | +0.26 +13.40% | 82.46M | |
| 29.61 | -2.38 -7.44% | 19.63M | |
| 18.84 | -0.29 -1.52% | 18.58M |
% Gainers
| 30.94 | +7.04 +29.46% | 10.42M | |
| 87.49 | +11.10 +14.53% | 5.78M | |
| 10.70 | +1.30 +13.83% | 2.46M | |
| 2.20 | +0.26 +13.40% | 82.46M |
% Losers
DailyFinance Wire
- 4 Money-Etiquette Questions Answered
- Walmart's New Health Food Push: Is It Too Hard to Swallow?
- Newlyweds, Don't Let the IRS Spoil Your Honeymoon
- Bonds Are a 'Safe' Investment: A Big Lie Gets Even Bigger
- Why Groupon Will Never Be Great Again
- Why Used Car Bargains Are Getting Harder to Find
- 5 Reasons Facebook Stock May Be a Better Buy Than You Think
Newswire
- Stocks fall sharply as Greek deal is held up
- Turbo-traders take Bank of America for a ride
- Donald Trump blasts plans for Scottish wind...
- Greece caught between protests, austerity...
- Trade deficit widens to $48.8 billion in...
- Feds investigate door fires in 2007 Camrys,...
- NYSE Euronext profit down on blocked merger...
- Obama call for manufacturing revival a tough...
- Morning Movers (CIE, ALU, LNKD, AMRS, XIDE)
- AEP Dividend Growth Still Looks Safe Ahead (AEP)
- Arch Coal Tumbles on Earnings, Forecast (ACI, ANR, PCX, BTU, CNX)
- 2011 Trade Deficit Hits 3-Year High, Over $550 Billion
- Today’s Best Market Rumors (2/10/2012) Apple iPad, Google Entertainment
- Top Analyst Upgrades & Downgrades (ALTR, AMSC, BIIB, CELG, COH, CSTR, COP, FSLR, GILD, HAIN, MA, RF, TRLG)
- Morning Wire — US Stock-Index Futures Down Sharply
- Alcatel-Lucent Pulls a Rabbit Out of Its Hat on Earnings (ALU)
Follow Us
