At the start of the pandemic, the number of part timers who would rather work full time spiked. Now, it’s lower than any time since 2001.

Demand for manufactured goods has grown during the pandemic, but new orders have been falling in recent months.

The economy is not where it needs to be on inflation, says Mary Daly, head of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco.

About 3.5 million more people were working or looking for work in May than a year earlier. Economists hope the number keeps rising.

That may be a sign that the overheated job market is cooling down.

We spoke with Alex Camardelle, director of Workforce Policy at the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, for an answer.

The Labor Department’s report Friday also showed that the unemployment rate dropped from 4% to 3.8%.

The February national employment report, due Friday, is expected to show strong job growth and wage gains.

Many older people returned to work, but the recovery isn’t as strong for people of color and women.

American Indians and Alaska Natives aren’t included in the monthly report, so they are often left out of discussions on economic well-being in the U.S.