All articles tagged with #unemployment rate
CNN’s fact-check argues Trump’s Canada claims are distorted: Canada’s unemployment rate was 6.4% in July (not 10%), Canada remains a major US trade partner with deep energy links, and most US agricultural exports to Canada are tariff-free (with only some dairy/poultry protections); Canada does have a military role and a NORAD partnership, contradicting Trump’s broader assertions.
Friday’s July employment data surprised to the downside with payrolls falling 23,000 while the unemployment rate eased to 4.1% as participation remained near pandemic lows. The softer hiring pace and softer wage growth reinforce expectations the Fed will keep rates unchanged this year, helping Treasury yields slide and equities jump, led by large tech names such as Nvidia, Microsoft and Meta. Traders also trimmed odds of a September rate hike, signaling a more favorable backdrop for stocks despite ongoing inflation concerns.
A weaker-than-expected July payrolls report shows a 23,000 decline in jobs (vs. +80,000 expected) with May–June revisions downward, while the unemployment rate ticked down to 4.1% as participation fell. Analysts say the data supports a pause in rate hikes but leaves the door open for a September move if inflation remains hotter than forecast, making Fed officials wary of a too-rosy labor market as inflation data next week looms.
July payrolls fell by 23,000 as education, government and retail cut jobs, while the unemployment rate eased to 4.1% and labor-force participation dipped to 61.4% — the lowest in five years, with about 264,000 people leaving the labor force. Retail lost 19,000 jobs (big-box retailers hardest hit), leisure and hospitality shed 40,000, and local education dropped 49,000, though healthcare added 22,000. June’s gains were revised down to +20,000. With wage growth lagging inflation and Fed rate expectations shifting little, the report underscoring a sluggish economy helped push modest stock gains in trading.
July’s employment report is expected to show modest hiring (+83,000 payrolls) with the unemployment rate steady at 4.2%, but the more telling signals will be labor-force participation, wage growth, and which sectors are leading hiring as the Fed remains focused on inflation; June’s weak data and a participation drop to 61.5% underscore concerns about labor-market health, with economists weighing whether policy moves later this year could hinge on inflation and varying payroll outcomes (Citi’s call for potential rate cuts later, Vanguard’s softer July payrolls estimate).
U.S. weekly unemployment-benefit claims fell to 187,000 for the week ending July 18, the lowest since Sept. 1969 and well below forecasts, signaling a still-tight labor market despite higher energy costs. The four-week moving average dropped to 207,500, while the June report showed only 57,000 new jobs and the unemployment rate at 4.2%, aided in part by people leaving the labor force. Energy-price pressures and potential war-related disruptions could pose risks to hiring going forward.
About 1 million Americans left the workforce over the past year, with June’s labor-force participation at 61.5%, the lowest since 2021. The unemployment rate fell to 4.2%, but experts say this drop reflects fewer people seeking work rather than more hiring. Causes are debated, including caregiving, burnout, retirements amid stock-market gains, skills shifts, and return-to-office mandates affecting women and workers with disabilities. A shrinking workforce could slow economic growth and worsen long-term labor shortages.
June’s unemployment rate fell to 4.2% as the labor force shrank by 720,000, pushing the participation rate to 61.5% — the lowest since March 2021 and, excluding Covid-era data, since 1976. Payrolls rose 57,000, but the household survey showed 507,000 fewer employed and 832,000 more not in the labor force, signaling a substantial exodus from participation. Analysts warn the data could be noisy, but the sharp drop in prime-age participation hints at underlying weakness rather than a straightforward recovery.
U.S. nonfarm payrolls rose by 57,000 in June, well below economists’ 113,000 forecast, while the unemployment rate dipped to 4.2% and the labor-force participation rate held at 61.5%. Gains were led by professional/business services, social assistance, and healthcare, but leisure and hospitality fell by 61,000 after May’s surge; April and May payrolls were revised down by a combined 74,000. The report signals a cooling labor market as the year heads toward mid-year.
The June jobs report shows a cooling labor market: nonfarm payrolls rose by 57,000—well below expectations—while the unemployment rate fell to 4.2% and the labor-force participation rate slipped to 61.5% (a multi-year low). May and April gains were revised down, dampening earlier optimism. Most growth came from professional/business services, health care and social assistance; leisure and hospitality lost 61,000. Average hourly earnings rose 0.3% in the month and 3.5% year over year. The softer payrolls read could influence Fed policy expectations, with investors weighing a potential September move against near-term policy pauses.
U.S. payrolls rose by 172,000 in May, beating expectations, with the unemployment rate steady at 4.3%; gains were broad, led by leisure and hospitality (+70k), local government (+55k), and health care (+35k). Average hourly earnings rose 0.3% for the month and 3.4% year over year. Revisions to prior months improved the picture, and the Fed is likely to hold rates as inflation remains the focus.
Economists expect May payrolls to rise around 105,000 with the unemployment rate near 4.3%, signaling a gradual labor-market rebound as hiring broadens beyond healthcare and wage growth slows. AI-driven changes to skills and demographics are shaping the outlook, while Spirit Airlines’ shutdown adds sector headwinds in transportation; unemployment claims stay near historic lows and the breadth of hiring across industries will be captured by the Diffusion Index.
U.S. payrolls rose 115,000 in April and the unemployment rate held at 4.3%, signaling a resilient labor market even as energy prices stay elevated amid the U.S.–Iran conflict. Healthcare led gains, with transportation/warehousing and retail adding jobs, IT fell, and 4.9 million workers were employed part-time for economic reasons; wages rose 3.6% year over year.
Markets expect April payroll gains of about 55,000 with the unemployment rate near 4.3%, signaling a cooling but still resilient labor market; wage growth is uneven, with higher earners seeing larger after-tax gains than lower earners, complicating the Fed’s policy path.
February payrolls fell by 92,000 and the unemployment rate rose to 4.4%, with revisions trimming December and January figures. Healthcare and federal government led losses, Black unemployment remained higher than White, and 2025 job growth was revised down to 181,000. The data complicates the Fed’s upcoming policy decision and underscores a fragile labor market.