business

US added just 151,000 jobs in Jan; unemployment at 4.9%

16 Comments
By JOSH BOAK

The requested article has expired, and is no longer available. Any related articles, and user comments are shown below.

© Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.

16 Comments
Login to comment

"Employers ( on average ) raised pay"

I hear Japanese companies ( on average ) are going to raise pay someday...

1 ( +2 / -1 )

These numbers are misleading. What they don't tell you is that a majority of these jobs are only part time because of the healthcare reform most businesses are doing away with full time employees to avoid paying for healthcare so yes there are more jobs but at low pay and low hours that you cannot even live off of

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

It's weird how every bad news about the US economy here it's presented with a general good feeling, implying the things are good after all. If you read the same news for example in Italian newspapers they speak about a way gloomier situation for the American economy that is still really struggling. So I wonder why there's such a different tone about this matter in different countries press. Also the real reasons behind the FED raising the interest rates are different from "thanks to the recovery".

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

Because the US economy has been trending better for a long while now. Even the recent huge corrections in the US stock markets were just shrugged off; no panic. Economy is no longer a top issue even among Republicans (and that's under a Democrat President).

3 ( +5 / -2 )

@lostrune2: you missed my point. According to other news there was never a real recovery.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

Then those news are wrong.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Yes...okay...

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

Alex, weren't you just on here talking about how America was doomed and China was the future. yeah, okay. lol

2 ( +3 / -1 )

The actual unemployment rate is MUCH higher.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

@mukashiyokatta --OK, so what is it? Please provide a link to a credible source for your assertion.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

The actual unemployment rate is MUCH higher.

The actual unemployment rate may be higher, but so long as the measurement metrics stay the same, it's the trend you're looking for. For example, the metrics that showed 8% unemployment several years ago, the same metrics now show 5% unemployment.

It's kinda like if your medical thermometer may be 0.5C off. When that thermometer was showing 41C several days ago, then you're sick. But when that same thermometer goes down to 38C, then you're feeling better. But it doesn't really matter exactly what your body temperature is - what matters is your temp went down and you're feeling better; so what if it's 0.5C off.

Different metrics measure/define unemployment differently, and nobody will ever agree on one singular true measurement/definition of unemployment. As long as you're measuring with the same metrics that you've always been using, what matters is the trend.

And that goes for the economy too. The metrics that showed the economy was in The Great Recession several years ago; the same metrics now show that the economy is no longer in recession. When unemployment rate went down from 7% to 5% when Pres. Bill Clinton was in Office, other unemployment measures may still show it to be higher than 5%, but it's undeniable that the US economy at the time was doing well.

So it's not the actual numbers that ya should look for - it's the trend.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

You're 100% correct Lostrune. But don't expect the anti-Obama's to admit it - in doing so they'd have to then admit Obama did something good.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

Read the article "Chart: what's the real unemployment rate?" on CNCB news site. It's not matter to be anti-Obama. How absurd idea. It's more related to how deeply the American job market was hurt by the recession. But that article explains there were already some problems, also before 2008.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

"If you read the same news for example in Italian newspapers they speak about a way gloomier situation for the American economy that is still really struggling."

That's funny. I don't recall the US running to Brussels to get a 600 billion euro bailout...which is what Italy did.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

I don't remember Italy did that.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

"I don't remember Italy did that."

"Spain and Italy to be bailed out"

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/financialcrisis/9343049/Debt-crisis-Spain-and-Italy-to-be-bailed-out-in-600bn-deal.html

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Login to leave a comment

Facebook users

Use your Facebook account to login or register with JapanToday. By doing so, you will also receive an email inviting you to receive our news alerts.

Facebook Connect

Login with your JapanToday account

User registration

Articles, Offers & Useful Resources

A mix of what's trending on our other sites