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View Full Version : Jobless Rate the Worst in 9 Years


nccanes
07-03-2003, 04:21 PM
In the last two days there have been reports about Invensys/Powerare and BTI losing jobs locally.

This, from CNN.com:

Jobless rate up to 6.4%
Climb in jobless rate worse than expected as employers cut another 30,000 jobs.
July 3, 2003: 2:15 PM EDT



NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - U.S. unemployment rose to its worst level in nine years in June as businesses cut thousands of jobs, the government said Thursday.

Unemployment rose to 6.4 percent from 6.1 percent in May, the Labor Department said. That's the highest level since April 1994. It was also worse than the forecasts of economists, who on average expected a jobless rate of 6.2 percent, according to a Reuters poll.

"This report may give pause to some of the optimists looking for a stronger second half," Economic Policy Institute Senior Economist Jared Bernstein told CNNfn's Money Morning. "We need a real boost if we're going to reverse some of these trends that are even more negative than we thought they were."

Other economists also said the report was a disappointment for those looking for signs of an improving economy.


President Bush's spokesman Ari Fleischer told reporters the president is concerned with rise in unemployment, but that he thought recently enacted tax cuts would help in the future. Fleischer said the numbers show a sign of slow recovery from a short shallow recession.

Labor Secretary Elaine Chao said that while the increase in unemployment was a disappointment, there were signs of strength and future growth in the report.

"I think it's important to take a look behind the numbers," Chao told CNNfn Thursday. "As the economy gains steam and people gain confidence about their job prospects they will declare themselves back in the job market and the unemployment rate may increase. That's I think what we're seeing today." nccanes note: talk about spin :roll:

Kat
07-03-2003, 04:22 PM
Yeah, this I already knew. Being the recipient of a downsizing just two weeks ago, I can personally testify to this affecting the Triangle area. Sigh.

-Kat

1Irbegirlforever
07-03-2003, 10:18 PM
Yep...we too know how bad the economy is nowadays. my hubby got layed off about a little over half a year ago from Nortel and NOBODY is hiring or is expected to be hiring anytime soon. unless of course, you are one of the lucky few who have good connections. :roll:

Jeff O Rocks
07-03-2003, 11:45 PM
Good luck to those on their job searches!! :sad: I don't know what it is going to take to get the economy on the way back up again...it worries me..