Looking at the latest labor stats is a classic case of “good news, bad news.”
New numbers out today from the United States Department of Labor show the unemployment rate fell to 4.2 percent, down from 4.4 percent. That’s the lowest level since February 2001.
But there’s a flip side to the report: namely, the first monthly hiring decline in seven years.
How do you square these two? Helping the Standard answer that question is Chris Rugaber, who covers employment and the economy for the Associated Press.
Listen to find out:
What accounts for mixed messages in the labor market
How the recent swath of hurricanes impacted jobs numbers
What’s happening with wages
