Jobless rate hits 9.4 percent in May; layoffs slow
Jobless rate jumps to 9.4 percent in May, even as layoffs slow to 345,000
Jeannine Aversa, AP Economics Writer
On Friday June 5, 2009, 8:38 am EDT
Print WASHINGTON (AP) -- With companies in no mood to hire, the unemployment rate jumped to 9.4 percent in May, the highest in more than 25 years. But the pace of layoffs eased, with employers cutting 345,000 jobs, the fewest since September.
The much smaller-than-expected reduction in payroll jobs, reported by the Labor Department on Friday, adds to evidence that the recession is loosening its hold on the country. It marked the fourth straight month that the pace of layoffs slowed.
Still, the increase in the nation's unemployment rate underscores the difficulties that America's 14.5 million unemployed are having in finding new jobs.
If laid-off workers who have given up looking for new jobs or have settled for part-time work are included, the unemployment rate would have been 16.4 percent in May, the highest on records dating to 1994.
Even with layoffs slowing, companies will be reluctant to hire until they feel certain that economic conditions are improving and that any recovery will last.
Since the recession began in December 2007, the economy has lost a net total of 6 million jobs.
Obama said he could stop this and Fix that.... Well when does is start??
.
Jobless rate jumps to 9.4 percent in May, even as layoffs slow to 345,000
Jeannine Aversa, AP Economics Writer
On Friday June 5, 2009, 8:38 am EDT
Print WASHINGTON (AP) -- With companies in no mood to hire, the unemployment rate jumped to 9.4 percent in May, the highest in more than 25 years. But the pace of layoffs eased, with employers cutting 345,000 jobs, the fewest since September.
The much smaller-than-expected reduction in payroll jobs, reported by the Labor Department on Friday, adds to evidence that the recession is loosening its hold on the country. It marked the fourth straight month that the pace of layoffs slowed.
Still, the increase in the nation's unemployment rate underscores the difficulties that America's 14.5 million unemployed are having in finding new jobs.
If laid-off workers who have given up looking for new jobs or have settled for part-time work are included, the unemployment rate would have been 16.4 percent in May, the highest on records dating to 1994.
Even with layoffs slowing, companies will be reluctant to hire until they feel certain that economic conditions are improving and that any recovery will last.
Since the recession began in December 2007, the economy has lost a net total of 6 million jobs.
Obama said he could stop this and Fix that.... Well when does is start??
.