WASHINGTON — Unemployment rates fell in 22 U.S. states in February from January, a sign that hiring gains are benefiting many parts of the country. The Labor Department said Friday that unemployment rates rose in 12 states and were unchanged ...

Tagged with: Business california employment Government hiring job market jobs Labor Department Mississippi nevada Recession Unemployment

WASHINGTON — The number of Americans seeking unemployment benefits jumped by 16,000 last week, the second straight weekly increase. But the longer-term trend in layoffs remained consistent with an improved job market. Applications increased to a seasonally adjusted 357,000 for ...

Tagged with: Economy employees employers hiring jobs layoffs Unemployment

WASHINGTON — Chief executives at the largest U.S. companies are much more optimistic about their sales prospects than they were three months ago, though many remain cautious about hiring. The Business Roundtable said Wednesday that 72 percent of its members ...

Tagged with: Business business roundtable ceos Economy hiring jobs Retail sales Small business Unemployment

WASHINGTON  — The number of Americans seeking unemployment aid fell to a seasonally adjusted 340,000 last week, driving down the four-week average to its lowest level in five years. The drop is a positive sign ahead of Friday’s report on ...

Tagged with: Business Economy employment hiring job growth joblessness jobs Unemployment

WASHINGTON — U.S. worker productivity shrank in the final three months of last year, mostly because of temporary factors that dragged down growth. The Labor Department says productivity contracted at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.9 percent in the ...

Tagged with: Business Economy employees hiring jobs Labor Department worker productivity

WASHINGTON — A private survey shows U.S. businesses added a solid number of jobs in February, indicating higher taxes and looming government spending cuts have yet to slow hiring. Employers added 198,000 jobs in February, according to data released Wednesday ...

Tagged with: Business Economy hiring jobs

WASHINGTON — U.S. service companies grew in February at the fastest pace in a year, buoyed by higher sales and more new orders. The Institute for Supply Management says its index of non-manufacturing activity rose to 56 in February from ...

Tagged with: Business construction financial services Government hiring institute for supply management jobs Labor Department Manufacturing Retail sales service service firms

Last year was also the fourth consecutive year law firms pulled back on filling entry-level positions.

Tagged with: associates attorney hiring jobs law firm Law School lawyer work workplace

WASHINGTON — The outlook for the U.S. job market is brightening after a government report showed a sharp drop in the number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits. Weekly applications fell 27,000 to a seasonally adjusted 341,000, the Labor Department ...

Tagged with: application Economy employees employers hiring jobs Labor Department Unemployment unemployment benefits

WASHINGTON — The number of Americans seeking unemployment aid rose sharply last week but remained at a level consistent with moderate hiring. Weekly applications for unemployment benefits leapt 38,000 to a seasonally adjusted 368,000, the Labor Department said Thursday. The ...

Tagged with: Business business news Economy employees employers hiring jobs Unemployment