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Recent immigrants have filled labor gaps, boosted job creation, experts say

Mar 15, 2024
There has been a wave of migration to the U.S. — legal and not — since 2022. Many who entered are finding and keeping jobs.
In 2022 and 2023, 5.9 million people migrated to the U.S., according to the Congressional Budget Office.
Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images

New H1-B visa rules give workers more autonomy

Mar 8, 2024
It’s H-1B season, which means U.S. companies are once again competing for a limited number of spots— 85,000 — in a visa lottery. Registration opened this week after the federal government revamped the application process.
Workers with H1-B visas "have a lot more more negotiating power," said immigration attorney Ummehani Ismail.
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Business economists expect a soft landing in 2024

Feb 26, 2024
The National Association for Business Economics' latest forecast predicts higher economic growth and lower unemployment.
“Over the past quarters, the prospects for a recession seem to get smaller, prospects for a soft landing larger," said Mervin Jebaraj at the University of Arkansas.
Angelia Weiss/AFP via Getty Images
The survey found over a quarter of trans people in the U.S. couldn't afford to visit the doctor when they needed to. Lack of health care access has economic effects, says Rodrigo Heng-Lehtinen.
Zackary Drucker and Alyza Enriquez/ Gender Spectrum Collection

It's been a bumpy ride for the office jobs that support office jobs

Jan 29, 2024
Jobs in this kind of work — the work that makes offices and buildings run, makes them nice — grew about 2.6% last year. It's growth but it's not huge growth.
The slow and uneven return to office leaves the future of office ecosystems up in the air.
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Temp jobs have been disappearing. That's actually good news for workers and companies.

Jan 2, 2024
Workers prefer the stability of permanent jobs, and permanent workers tend to be more productive.
The temporary employment sector has weakened as demand softened and many temps became permanent.
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More part-time workers are finding full-time gigs

Dec 8, 2023
In November, the number of people who want to have full-time work but haven't found it due to economic reasons declined by about 300,000.
Retail is one sector where previously part-time workers are finding full-time work.
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New unemployment claims creep up as hiring slows

Nov 16, 2023
Six months of incremental softening of the job market has firmed up to something tangible: the number of people continuing to file for unemployment was the highest it’s been in almost two years.
Slowed hiring could be an indicator that the jobs market is mellowing out after wild swings during the first few years of the pandemic.
Jeff Kowalsky/AFP via Getty Images

Wage growth cools in October

Nov 3, 2023
Average hourly earnings rose 4.1% year-over-year in October; the rate peaked near 6% in March 2022. The slowdown in wage growth is helping the Fed wrestle inflation lower.
The rate of average hourly earnings growth slowed in October, which is exactly what the Fed hopes might further cool inflation.
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Retirement doesn't appeal to a notary in Texas who's still enjoying work

Oct 31, 2023
"This particular job, one of the reasons I took it is because I knew that you'd never stop learning, and I find that really exciting," said Violet O'Brien, a notary in Houston.
Texas notary Violet O'Brien (right) at a meeting with a client.
Courtesy Violet O'Brien