jobs report

Jobless Claims Fall to Lowest Level in 5 Years

The number of Americans filing new claims for jobless benefits fell last week, nearing its lowest level in five years in a sign of resilience for the U.S. labor market.

Dow, S&P 500 Close at Record Levels After Jobs Report

The Dow and S&P 500 advanced to all-time closing highs on Friday, with major indexes jumping 1 percent after an unexpectedly strong April jobs report.

Unemployment Falls to 7.7% as Employers Get Back to Hiring

U.S. employers ramped up hiring in February, adding 236,000 jobs and pushing the unemployment rate down to 7.7 percent from 7.9 percent in January. Stronger hiring shows businesses are confident about the economy, despite higher taxes and government spending cuts.

Dow Closes at Another High, Eyes Turn to U.S. Payrolls

U.S. stocks closed modestly higher on Thursday, with the Dow ending at a record for a third straight day as jobless claims data pointed to a pick-up in the labor market's recovery a day before the closely watched payrolls report.

Dow Jones Closes Above 14,000 for First Time Since Oct. 2007

The Dow stock market index closed above 14,000 for the first time since before the financial crisis rocked the world economy. Propelled by strong auto sales and optimism about U.S. jobs, the Dow Jones industrial average crossed the line early Friday and continued flirting with the mark all day.

U.S. Added 192,000 Jobs in January, ADP Reports

Payroll processor ADP says that employers added 192,000 jobs in January. That is more than December's revised number of 185,000, which had initially been reported at 215,000.

Jobs Report: Unemployment Rate Holds Steady At 7.8 Percent

Hiring by U.S. employers slowed slightly in December, pointing to a lackluster pace of economic growth that was unable to cut further into the country's still high unemployment rate. Payrolls outside the farming sector grew by 155,000, in line with analysts' expectations.

Initial Jobless Claims Rise, But Distorted By Holidays

More Americans sought unemployment benefits last week, though the winter holidays likely distorted the data for the second straight week. The Labor Department says weekly applications rose by 10,000 to a seasonally adjusted 372,000 in the week ended Dec. 29.

Jobs Report: Despite Sandy, Hiring Is Up and Unemployment Is Down

The U.S. economy added 146,000 jobs in November and the unemployment rate fell to 7.7 percent, the lowest since December 2008. The government said Superstorm Sandy had only a minimal effect on the figures.

Weekly Jobless Claims Fell to 355,000

Initial claims for state unemployment benefits dropped 8,000 to a seasonally adjusted 355,000, the Labor Department said on Thursday. The report is a sign the labor market's slow recovery is gaining traction, although Hurricane Sandy's impact on the Northeast may have distorted the data.

U.S. Economy Adds 171,000 Jobs in Oct., Unemployment Rate at 7.9%

U.S. employers added 171,000 jobs in October and hiring was stronger over the previous two months than first thought. The unemployment rate inched up to 7.9 percent from 7.8 percent in September.

Election Home Stretch: 5 Things to Watch for Before Nov. 6

With less than a week to go before Election Day, there are usually a few clear indicators that one candidate has momentum, some idea of how the remaining undecided voters are going to break. It was obvious in 2008. Between Barack Obama and Mitt Romney in 2012, that's just not the case.

Mitt Romney Close Behind Obama After Debate, Poll Shows

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney stayed within striking distance of President Barack Obama in a Reuters/Ipsos poll on Sunday, two-points behind the Democrat for the third straight day after winning last week's debate in Denver.

Dow Has Its Best Close in Nearly 5 Years

Investors, encouraged by a drop in the unemployment rate, sent the Dow Jones Industrial Average to highest level in almost 5 years on Friday. And though the jobs report-inspired rally did not last, the Dow still closed up 34.79 points, at 13610.15, for its best finish since December 2007.

Tepid Jobs Report Better Than Expected: Employers Added 162,000 Jobs In September

U.S. private employers added 162,000 jobs in September, topping economists' expectations, a report by a payrolls processor showed on Wednesday. Economists surveyed by Reuters had forecast the ADP National Employment Report would show a gain of 143,000 jobs.

New Unemployment Applications Fell to 382,000 Last Week

The number of Americans seeking unemployment benefits fell only slightly last week to a seasonally adjusted 382,000. The level suggests hiring remains weak -- too weak to lower the unemployment rate.

US Stocks Rise Slightly After Weak Jobs Report

The Dow Jones industrial average rose 15 points to close at 13,307. The Standard & Poor's 500 was up nearly six at 1,438. The Nasdaq composite rose less than point at 3,136.

Weak Job Growth Makes Bold Fed Action More Likely

August's sluggish job growth could slow the momentum President Barack Obama hoped to gain from his speech Thursday night; it could also make the Federal Reserve more likely to unveil a new bond-buying program at its meeting next week.

U.S. Economy Adds 96,000 Jobs, Unemployment Rate Falls to 8.1%

U.S. employers added 96,000 jobs last month, a weak figure that could slow the momentum President Obama hoped to gain from his speech Thursday night to the Democratic National Convention. The unemployment rate fell -- but only because more people stopped looking for work.

An Epic Week Ahead For The Global Economy

For the US, the week may not really begin until Tuesday, but starting Monday night it's going to be an epic week for the entire globe. Here's why.

Dismal Job Market Pushes Dow into 275-Point Plunge

The stock market suffered its worst day of the year Friday after a surprisingly weak report about hiring and employment cast a pall of gloom over the U.S. economy.

U.S. Employers Added Just 69,000 Jobs in May, Fewest in a Year

U.S. employers created only 69,000 jobs in May, the fewest in a year, and the unemployment rate ticked up. The dismal jobs data will fan fears that the economy is sputtering. But it could lead the Fed to take further steps to help it.

U.S. Hiring Slows Sharply With Just 115,000 Jobs Added in April

U.S. employers pulled back on hiring in April for the second straight month, evidence of an economy still growing only sluggishly. The unemployment rate dipped, but only because more people gave up looking for work.

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.

May Was Brutal Month for Jobs Growth

New government data shows that the U.S. added just 54,000 new jobs in May, far less than what economists were expecting. The news, which sent the jobless rate up to 9.1%, sent stocks lower on Wall Street.

Unemployment Rate Falls Again to 8.8%

The unemployment rate fell to a two-year low of 8.8 percent in March and companies added workers at the fastest two-month pace since before the recession began.

Unemployment Rate Falls Again, to 8.9%

Employers ramped up hiring in February, adding a total of 192,000 jobs to the U.S economy. Even better, the unemployment rate fell for the third straight month to 8.9% -- close to a two-year low. Private employers added 222,000 jobs last month, the most since April.