State and local governments hired fewer people in September, while total hires and job openings increased

Total job openings in the U.S. economy rose in September, increasing by 225,000 to 3.35 million, and total hires during the month increased by 185,000 to 4.25 million, according to new estimates from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. But while the number of people getting hired in the U.S. More…

Florida second in nation in mass layoffs in August

Florida had the second highest number of mass layoff actions in the nation during the month of August, according to a U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics summary released today.

For 2nd year in a row, Focus on the Family not getting enough donations to make budget

Influential conservative social policy group Focus on the Family announced Friday it will eliminate about 50 jobs due to a significant drop in donations that has led to a $15 million budget shortfall, as the Denver Post initially reported.

Weekly Job Claims Remain High

Today, the Bureau of Labor Statistics said that initial weekly jobless claims declined slightly to 472,000. Initial claims need to fall into the 300,000s for the unemployment rate to decline, economists say. That means many economists expect the unemployment rate for August, due to be released tomorrow, will increase More…

Mass Layoffs Down in July

Some good news from the Labor Department this morning: Mass layoffs, where an employer fired more than 50 workers within a month, decreased year-on-year and from June to July.

The data shows that the manufacturing sector has improved, year on year, though layoffs remain high.

To Pass State Aid Bill, Democrats Turn to Maine Republicans

Senate Democrats attempting to pass a much-needed $26.1 billion state aid bill — a fully paid-for provision including funds for teachers’ jobs and for Medicaid — are looking to Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) to cross the aisle and give the bill 60 votes to overcome a presumed Republican filibuster.

Via More…

For Growing Ranks of 99ers, No Help Coming

Late Thursday afternoon, President Obama signed into law a bill granting workers out of a job for more than 26 weeks additional unemployment insurance payments, paid for by the federal government. The benefits had been in place since November 2009, but had lapsed for seven weeks — an unprecedented More…

New Jobless Claims Bounce Back Up

This morning, the Labor Department announced that the number of people making initial jobless claims increased sharply last week, up by 37,000 to 464,000. The sustained, high number of initial claims feeds the sustained, high jobless rate. Economists say initial claims need to fall into the 300,000s to demonstrate More…

Teacher Layoffs Already Here, Bill Stopping Them Uncertain

This week, with Congress back from the Memorial Day recess, legislators will again push for a $23 billion aid bill to keep public-school teachers in their classrooms. Sen. Tom Harkin’s (D-Iowa) proposal, the Keep Our Educators Working Act, would help prevent the firing of as many as 300,000 educators. More…

Planned Job Cuts Stabilize at Pre-Recession Rates

This morning, the outplacement consulting firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas said that planned payroll cuts were 38,810 in May — roughly the same level as in April, when job cuts hit a four-year low. It’s good news: Planned layoffs have stabilized close to their rate before the recession hit. More…