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115,000 jobs added in April, unemployment falls to 8.1%
Heidi N. Moore May 4, 2012
The government released its closely-watched employment report for April. While the unemployment rate ticked down to 8.1 percent, only 115,000 new jobs were added to payrolls for the month, well below forecasts.
More on the April jobs report
Jeremy Hobson May 4, 2012
The unemployment rate fell to 8.1 percent while the jobs added was a bit lower than previous months. But what can we find when we scratch the surface of the April unemployment report?
Sitting out the job hunt
Amy Scott May 4, 2012
Unemployment fell slightly last month, but the numbers don't tell the whole story. Not counted: the number of people who have given up looking for work.
Employment numbers? Ignore them.
Heidi N. Moore May 8, 2012
Our New York bureau chief Heidi Moore tells us why we shouldn't be moved by the monthly jobs numbers.
Older workers facing softening job market
John Dimsdale May 3, 2012
A record level of unemployed workers are dealing with long-term unemployment -- including one particular group.
Americans, employment and the 'Optimism Gap'
Frank Newport Apr 19, 2012
In just a little while, we'll hear the latest on how many people were forced to sign up for unemployment benefits. But how's the job market doing if you actually ask people?
How working at home factors into the economy
Diane Swonk Apr 12, 2012
The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits jumped last week by 13,000 to 380,000. But what about all those Americans working at home?
When people leaving their jobs is a good thing
David Brancaccio Apr 12, 2012
The number of people signing up for unemployment benefits rose by 13,000 over the last week -- a surprise and not a good one. But more people voluntarily leaving their jobs can also be a good sign for the economy.
March jobs report disappointing, but not a disaster
Julia Coronado Apr 9, 2012
After news that Sony is cutting 6 percent of its workforce and that the U.S. economy only added 120,000 jobs last month, the future doesn't look bright -- but a bigger picture shows it's all just part of a slow recovery.
Baby Boomers choosing to retire earlier
Jeremy Hobson Apr 9, 2012
There was one tiny bright spot to March's unemployment report: 164,000 fewer people were looking for work. One particular demographic that has dropped out of the search -- Baby Boomers who are choosing to retire prematurely.
