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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2009
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NEWS ABOUT: Department of Labor

Department of Labor stories: 28 news summaries

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 Unemployment Jumps to 10.2% 

Companies cut 190,000 jobs last month

Nov 6, 09 7:50 AM CST
(Newser) - Unemployment cracked the 10% barrier last month, as 190,000 workers lost their jobs, according to Labor Department figures released today. The bigger-than-expected losses bring the rate to 10.2%, a 26-year high. And the underemployment rate, which includes would-be full-timers working part time and those who've given up looking... More »

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recession • unemployment • Department of Labor • payrolls • economy • underemployment • unemployment rate

In Recovery, Business Will Profit at Workers' Expense

Short-term outlook 'great for business, terrible for households'

Sep 5, 09 9:18 AM CDT
(Newser) - The economy is slowly improving, but companies will see the benefits long before the unemployed and underemployed will, Bloomberg reports. A Department of Labor report released yesterday found that the average workweek is at a near-record low of 33.1 hours. The lack of uptick in part-time hours is an... More »

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economic growth • recession • unemployment • US economy • Department of Labor • US employment • underemployment

(Newser) - The US lost 216,000 jobs last month, driving unemployment to 9.7%, its highest level since 1983, the Wall Street Journal reports. The silver lining is that job losses have slowed; payrolls dropped a revised 276,000 in July, and earlier months saw losses of as many as... More »

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economic indicators • unemployment • Department of Labor • payrolls

(AP) - The unemployment rate jumped to 9.4% in May, the highest in more than 25 years. But the furious pace of layoffs eased, with employers cutting 345,000 jobs, the fewest since September. If laid off workers who have given up looking for new jobs or have settled for part-time... More »

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recession • unemployment • Department of Labor • jobless claims • economy

(Newser) - The Pennsylvania Department of Labor is investigating Jon & Kate Plus 8 to see if the show violates child labor laws, the AP reports. TLC says it complies with all state regulations; the department would not reveal who made the complaint, saying only “any complaint we get, we investigate.... More »

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entertainment • reality TV • child actors • Pennsylvania • child labor • Department of Labor • TLC • Jon and Kate Plus 8 • Jon Gosselin • Kate Gosselin

(Newser) - Unemployment has hit a 25-year high, but analysts say it will worsen as job cuts force consumers to cut back, triggering yet more payroll reductions, Bloomberg reports. Manufacturers, service providers, and even the US Postal Service are planning to lay off workers in the face of declining consumer demand. “... More »

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layoffs • recession • unemployment • consumer spending • manufacturing • Department of Labor • payrolls

(Newser) - Another punishing month of job losses in March has pushed unemployment to a 25-year-high of 8.5%, the Labor Department said today. Total job losses for the 16-month recession have now passed 5 million. Nonfarm payrolls fell 663,000 in March, which mostly matched analyst estimates, the Wall Street ... More »

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unemployment • Department of Labor • payrolls • job cuts • job

(Newser) - US employers cut an estimated 742,000 jobs in March, a larger drop than expected, Bloomberg reports. The figure, from a report based on private payroll data, comes days before the Labor Department is expected to make a similar announcement. If the numbers prove accurate, it would mean that employers... More »

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recession • unemployment • US economy • Department of Labor • job cuts • economic downturn

New Jobless Claims Leap Past Estimates

Did you ever suspect they'd go down? Me either

Jan 22, 09 8:09 AM CST
(AP) - The number of new claims for jobless benefits jumped more than expected last week, as companies continue to cut jobs at a furious pace. The Labor Department reported today that initial claims rose to a seasonally adjusted 589,000, from an upwardly revised figure of 527,000 the previous week.... More »

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economic indicators • unemployment • Department of Labor • jobless claims • economy • financial crisis

 Obama Picks Solis for Labor 

Calif. Congresswoman has pushed for creation of 'green jobs'

Dec 18, 08 2:17 PM CST
(Newser) - Barack Obama will nominate Hilda Solis, a daughter of Latin American immigrants who’s currently a California Congresswoman, for secretary of labor, the Washington Post reports. Elected in 2000, Solis currently sits on the House Energy and Commerce committee and the Natural Resources committee, among others. She, like Obama, has... More »

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Barack Obama • Cabinet • Department of Labor • President Obama • Hilda Solis • labor secretary

Economy

 US Lost 
 Half-Million 
 Jobs in Nov. 

Biggest drop in 34 years

Dec 5, 08 8:24 AM CST
(Newser) - November saw 553,000 Americans lose their jobs, according to a Labor Department non-farm payrolls report, the steepest drop in 34 years. The number exceeded even the grimmest predictions in Bloomberg’s survey of 73 analysts. “The labor market capsized in November,” said one economist. “The financial... More »

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economic indicators • unemployment • Department of Labor • payrolls • jobless claims • economy

Openly Gay Union Activist
on Shortlist for Labor Secretary

Granholm, Sebelius also rumored picks

Dec 3, 08 10:43 AM CST
(Newser) - A gay union leader is on the shortlist for Barack Obama's secretary of labor, the Wall Street Journal reports. Democratic officials have confirmed that Mary Beth Maxwell—who would become the first openly gay Cabinet member in American history if chosen—is being vetted for the position, along with Govs.... More »

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Barack Obama • unions • Department of Labor • Jennifer Granholm • Kathleen Sebelius • David Bonior • gays • Obama administration • gay women • President Obama • Obama Cabinet • Mary Beth Maxwell

 Unemployment 
 Funds Could 
 Dry Up 

Growing ranks of jobless stressing states' abilities to help

Oct 9, 08 7:39 AM CDT
(Newser) - At least 10 states have less than six months worth of unemployment benefit reserves and could run out of cash early in 2009, reports CNN. The national unemployment level is currently at 6.1%—the highest since 2001—and is expected to keep climbing. Economists say states should have packed... More »

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California • unemployment • Department of Labor • jobless claims • unemployment benefits

 Unemployment Rate Hits 
 5-Year High of 6.1%

Factory workers hit hardest as unforeseen fall in jobs stuns economy

Sep 5, 08 8:43 AM CDT
(Newser) - Jobless figures came in worse than expected today, sending the unemployment rate to a nearly five-year high of 6.1%, Bloomberg reports. The US lost 84,000 jobs in August, the eighth straight month of declines, raising the specter of a worsening economic slowdown. The jump in unemployment, which was... More »

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employment • recession • unemployment • consumer spending • Department of Labor • job

MARKETS

 Jobs, Earnings Spur Losses

Downbeat session kicks off August

Aug 1, 08 3:25 PM CDT
(Newser) - Stocks fell today as investors absorbed a slate of poor earnings reports and glum but not awful economic reports. Crude rose $1.02 a barrel, and shares in every sector other than energy fell, MarketWatch reports. The Dow dropped 51.70 to 11,326.32, the Nasdaq shed 14.59... More »

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Toyota • Dow Jones • General Motors • Sun Microsystems • Ford • Nasdaq • Department of Labor • S&P 500 • oil prices

Workers Losing Hours as Economy Tightens

Jobless figures don't reflect part-time jump

Jul 31, 08 7:44 AM CDT
(Newser) - US joblessness stands at a moderate 5.5%, but more than 3.7 million workers have seen their hours cut from full-time to part-time over the last year, shrinking their paychecks even as gas and food prices soar, reports the New York Times. That's the highest figure in the... More »

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layoffs • unemployment • Department of Labor • economy • part-time jobs

Feds Push to Ease Workplace Toxin Regs

Labor Dept. seeks to loosen oversight; union decries 'midnight' move

Jul 23, 08 1:43 PM CDT
(Newser) - The Department of Labor is rushing to push through policy that would make it more difficult to regulate workers’ exposure to toxins, the Washington Post reports. The proposal was never publicly disclosed, as required by law, but rather surfaced on the website of the White House Office of Management and... More »

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work • unions • manufacturing • Department of Labor • regulation • workplace safety • toxins

MARKETS

 Dismal Day Ends Dismal Week 

Housing, oil continue to pummel equities

May 23, 08 3:34 PM CDT
(Newser) - Stocks fell today, rounding out a gloomy week as the familiar themes of housing malaise and energy costs manifested in widespread big losses, MarketWatch reports. The Dow fell 145.99 to close at 12,479.63, the Nasdaq lost 19.91, settling at 2,444.67, and the S&P... More »

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stock market • housing market • Dow Jones • home sales • Ford • Nasdaq • Department of Labor • existing home sales • S&P 500 • weekly gains • retail businesses • Nordstrom

 Lucky Alaska First to Hit $4 Gas 

Others could join '$4 club' after Memorial Day

May 15, 08 11:03 AM CDT
(Newser) - It's here. Alaska has the painful distinction of becoming the first state where gas is selling for an average of $4 a gallon, Reuters reports. The average for the rest of the US is hovering at $3.76, but Connecticut, California, New York, and Illinois could all join Alaska in... More »

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California • Alaska • New York • Michigan • Connecticut • Illinois • Hawaii • gas prices • Department of Labor • West Virginia • AAA • Memorial Day • Petroleum Marketers Association

Dems Push New Aid Package as Job Market Swoons

Economists say any doubt we're in recession is gone

Apr 5, 08 9:25 AM CDT
(Newser) - Democrats are calling for another stimulus package to help American workers as unemployment soars, the New York Times reports. Almost 250,000 American jobs have been lost since the beginning of the year—including 80,000 in March—leading one policy expert to say it's time the government switched focus... More »

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recession • unemployment • US economy • Department of Labor • job market • economic stimulus package • job

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