Oct 19, 2023

A closer look at unemployment and wealth gap data

Kobus Louw/Getty Images

Today, we get into the nuance of unemployment and the racial wealth gap data. Plus, a coin designer and the 32-hour workweek, island style.

Segments From this episode

Unemployment just hit an even lower low

by Meghan McCarty Carino

Oct 19, 2023

About 198,000 people filed new claims last week. The drop continues a downward trend, even in the face of higher interest rates.

"We are seeing some labor hoarding," companies hanging on to the workers they have, says Lydia Boussour, senior economist at EY-Parthenon.

gerenme/Getty Images

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Americans are still revenge spending on live events — especially concerts

by Matt Levin

Oct 19, 2023

And yet, more than half of Americans say they’re going to cut back on entertainment spending, because of rising costs.

Beyoncé and Taylor Swift took over the entertainment world this year with their highly-attended and highly-promoted concert tours.

John Shearer/Getty Images for TAS

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Black, Hispanic household wealth grows, but stubborn gap persists

by Savannah Maher

Oct 19, 2023

Since those groups generally started with less wealth than white and Asian households, small changes have an outsize impact.

The jobs rebound after the pandemic recession aided Black and Hispanic families’ finances, but lower homeownership rates limited their gains as property values rose.

Getty Images

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A Washington island county is trying a 32-hour workweek

by Scott Greenstone

Oct 19, 2023

It's an attempt by San Juan County officials to attract and recruit workers in the remote and expensive area.

Matthew Steward, a San Juan County maintenance worker, trains to become a substitute school bus driver. If Steward passes the test, he'll have three jobs.

Scott Greenstone/KNKX

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How a booming gun business in the U.S. arms Mexico’s cartels

by Elizabeth Trovall

Oct 19, 2023

Easy access to weapons has fueled an underground supply chain that sends firearms and ammo south while drugs and migrants move north.

Assault-style rifles for sale in an American gun store. Many firearms smuggled into Mexico are bought legally in the U.S.

Scott Olson/Getty Images

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Music from the episode

Cashmere Tree Theater

The Joke Brandi Carlile

Seconds Into Months MNDLSS

From Home, to Work, and Back Tall Black Guy

Fishin' Takénobu

Superposition Young the Giant

The team

Nancy Farghalli Executive Producer

Maria Hollenhorst Producer II

Andie Corban Producer I

Sarah Leeson Producer I

Sean McHenry Director & Associate Producer II

Richard Cunningham Associate Producer I

Jordan Mangi Assistant Digital Producer

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