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Job growth surges, unemployment ticks up. Why?

Employers added 312,000 jobs in December, according to the Labor Department. That’s far more jobs than expected. And yet, the unemployment rate rose from 3.7 to 3.9 percent. More jobs, higher unemployment. How’s that work? It has something to do with the labor force participation rate. Click the audio player above to hear the full […]

Employment seekers attend the JobExpo employment fair in New York City.
Employment seekers attend the JobExpo employment fair in New York City.
Mario Tama/Getty Images

Employers added 312,000 jobs in December, according to the Labor Department. That’s far more jobs than expected. And yet, the unemployment rate rose from 3.7 to 3.9 percent. More jobs, higher unemployment. How’s that work? It has something to do with the labor force participation rate.

Click the audio player above to hear the full story.

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