A tale of 2 US employment surveys, at a glance

(WASHINGTON) — A report Friday on April employment could show whether weak hiring in March marked a temporary lull or the fourth year in which a slumping economy has slowed job growth. Economists predict that the job gains likely improved on March’s 88,000 — the fewest in nine months. But the hiring isn’t expected to be much better. Most analysts think employers in April added more than 100,000 jobs but far fewer than the 196,000 that were added on average from September through February.

(WASHINGTON) — A report Friday on April employment could show whether weak hiring in March marked a temporary lull or the fourth year in which a slumping economy has slowed job growth. Economists predict that the job gains likely improved on March’s 88,000 — the fewest in nine months. But the hiring isn’t expected to be much better. Most analysts think employers in April added more than 100,000 jobs but far fewer than the 196,000 that were added on average from September through February.

AP - The economy gained only 80,000 net jobs in October, almost half September's gain of 158,000 and the fewest in four months. Yet the unemployment rate fell for the first time since July.

Dian L. Chu submits: The Labor Department said on Friday, February 04, 2011 the U.S. economy added a paltry 36,000 jobs in January--the fewest in four months--mostly due to bad weather, and a reluctance of companies to hire. But somehow, the unemployment rate managed to drop 0.4% in January to 9%, the lowest level since April 2009. One would ask what’s wrong with this picture - 36,000 new jobs can’t possibly result in a 0.4% drop in unemployment rate.

U.S. employers pulled back on hiring in April for the second straight month, a sobering reminder that the economy remains weak. The unemployment rate fell to 8.1 percent, but only because more people gave up looking for work. Employers added 115,000 jobs after adding 154,000 in March.» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

WASHINGTON — U.S. employers advertised more job openings in January, suggesting that hiring will remain healthy in the coming months. Job openings rose 2.2 percent in January from December to 3.69 million, the Labor Department said Tuesday. Openings had fallen nearly 5 percent in December. They are still below November’s level of nearly 3.8 million. There were other positive signs: Employers laid off the fewest workers in January than in any month since records began in 2001. And the number of Americans quitting their jobs rose to the highest in more than four years.

WASHINGTON — U.S. employers advertised more job openings in January, suggesting that hiring will remain healthy in the coming months. Job openings rose 2.2 percent in January from December to 3.69 million, the Labor Department said Tuesday. Openings had fallen nearly 5 percent in December. They are still below November’s level of nearly 3.8 million. There were other positive signs: Employers laid off the fewest workers in January than in any month since records began in 2001. And the number of Americans quitting their jobs rose to the highest in more than four years.