Few Signs of Recovery in the Labor Market

Abstract

Toward the end of 2013, a slowdown in the economy began to be noticeable. One indicator that drew attention throughout 2014 was the unemployment rate, which had shown a sustained increase up to the June–August moving quarter of that year. In September, however, it began to fall steadily for both men and women, reaching 6.1% in the latest available reading (October–November 2014). This slight decline (at its 2014 peak the rate reached 6.7%) is not merely seasonal, since it persists once that effect is removed. Continue reading...