Segments From This Episode

• The Weekly Wrap

  by Kai Ryssdal

  It’s a jobs market to celebrate this Labor Day Weekend. Marketplace host Kai Ryssdal, The New York Times’ Ana Swanson and The Washington Post’s Heather Long dig into this week’s economic data, then discuss Secretary Raimondo’s visit to China and the Biden administration’s economic messaging problems.

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• Labor force participation approaches pre-pandemic levels

  by Mitchell Hartman

  

  The participation rate, which includes people actively looking for jobs, rose in August for those 55 and older, women, teenagers and others.

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• When it comes to measuring economic welfare, GDP doesn’t cut it

  by Kai Ryssdal and Maria Hollenhorst

  

  Gross domestic product has been the standard measure for economic growth since 1944, but it doesn’t measure the quality of life.

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• Small businesses are still struggling to hire. But the situation’s improving.

  by Justin Ho

  

  The good news: The lowest proportion of small businesses since March 2021 reported having trouble hiring. The bad news: It’s still 40%.

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• In West Texas, a budding pipeline fight highlights activists’ changing tactics

  by Travis Bubenik

  

  Pipeline opponents across the U.S. have taken to emphasizing the projects’ impacts on private property rights.

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