Latest U.S. Department of Labor News
US employers added just 12,000 jobs last month as hurricanes and strikes sharply reduce payrolls
WASHINGTON (AP) — America’s employers added just 12,000 jobs in October, a total that economists say was held down by the effects of strikes and hurricanes that left many workers temporarily off payrolls. The report provided a somewhat blurry view of the job market at the end of a presidential...
US applications for jobless benefits fall as layoffs remain at historically healthy levels
Fewer Americans filed for unemployment benefits last week as layoffs remained at historically healthy levels despite elevated interest rates. The Labor Department reported Thursday that jobless claim applications fell by 12,000 to 216,000 for the week of Oct. 26. That's fewer than...
Jobs report on eve of election will be among the most muddled in years
WASHINGTON (AP) — Four days before Election Day, the government will issue its final snapshot of hiring and unemployment in the United States after a presidential race in which voter perceptions of the economy have played a central role. Yet Friday's report will include some of the...
US job openings fell in September to a 3 1/2-year low
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. job openings tumbled last month to their lowest level since January 2021, a sign that the labor market is losing some momentum. Still, posted vacancies remain well above pre-pandemic levels. The Labor Department reported Tuesday that the number of job...
This week: Consumer confidence, inflation, employment
A look at some of the key business events and economic indicators upcoming this week. Confidence checkup The Conference Board publishes its consumer confidence index for October on Tuesday. Last month, American consumers felt less confident amid rising...
Minimum wage will increase 30 cents in South Dakota starting Jan. 1
PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — Minimum wage workers in South Dakota will soon see bigger paychecks. The South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation said the minimum wage for nontipped employees will rise by 30 cents on Jan. 1, to $11.50 per hour. The minimum wage for tipped...
US applications for jobless benefits fall, but continuing claims rise to highest level since 2021
The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits fell last week, but the total number of those collecting benefits rose to its highest level in almost three years. The Labor Department reported Thursday that applications for jobless claims fell by by 15,000 to 227,000 for the...
Colorado gold mine where tour guide was killed and tourists trapped ordered closed by regulators
DENVER (AP) — A former Colorado gold mine where a tour guide was killed and a group of tourists was trapped for hours after an elevator accident has been ordered to remain closed and not conduct tours while its operations are reviewed, state regulators said Thursday. In a...
US filings for jobless applications retreat back to recent ranges after big jump due to hurricanes
The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits last week came back down to more recent ranges after a big jump the week before due to hurricanes in the Southeast. The Labor Department reported Thursday that applications for jobless claims fell by by 19,000 to 241,000 for...
What's behind the widening gender wage gap in the US?
NEW YORK (AP) — Just how much of a setback was the COVID-19 pandemic for U.S. working women? Although women who lost or left their jobs at the height of the crisis have largely returned to the workforce, a recent finding points to the price many paid for stepping back: In 2023,...
