Mar 7, 2025

The contrarian jobs report

PK Photos/Getty Images

Employment dropped in February, but the number of jobs went up. Confused? We'll explain.

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The Weekly Wrap

by Kai Ryssdal

“Marketplace” host Kai Ryssdal talks with Heather Long at The Washington Post and Courtenay Brown at Axios about the week’s news.

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Employment in February declined, but the number of jobs went up. Confused?

by Mitchell Hartman

Mar 7, 2025

The monthly jobs report is actually two reports based on two surveys that use different sources for different information.

Two surveys make up the BLS's monthly jobs report: The smaller household survey asks who's working or looking for work, and the much larger payroll survey asks employers how many jobs they have.

Spencer Platt/Getty Images

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Mind the Gap, because it's on a bit of a roll

by Meghan McCarty Carino

Mar 7, 2025

The retailer reported positive results in its latest earnings report.

The Gap is finally making a cultural comeback, according to its latest earnings report.

Sion Touhig/Getty Images

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More part-time workers want full-time jobs, monthly report shows

by Kimberly Adams

Mar 7, 2025

One reason for all the part-time work is the instability in the broader economy, one expert says.

"People are taking a more cautious approach to looking for a job, and employers are taking a more cautious approach when it comes to hiring," says Thomas Vick with staffing and consulting firm Robert Half.

Charly Triballeau/AFP via Getty Images

The NBA has become a game of business regulations

by Kai Ryssdal and Sean McHenry

Mar 7, 2025

The league's labor agreement has put a lot of red tape around how much players can get paid, leading to a tangled net of trades.

When Luka Dončić was traded from the Mavericks to the Lakers, regulations were a big reason. "There's all these penalties for spending the amount of money that they felt they were gonna have to spend to retain him," said journalist Jordan Sargent.

Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

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Music from the episode

Ride or Die The Knocks, Foster the People

Avant Gardener Courtenay Barnett

This Must Be The Place Talking Heads

Ten Cent Pistol The Black Keys

Pyscho Killer Talking Heads

The team

Nancy Farghalli Executive Producer

Maria Hollenhorst Producer II

Andie Corban Producer I

Sarah Leeson Producer I

Sean McHenry Director & Associate Producer II

Sofia Terenzio Associate Producer I

Jordan Mangi Assistant Digital Producer

Nicholas Guiang Assistant Producer

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