Unemployment

WASHINGTON — The number of newly laid-off workers requesting jobless benefits in the U.S. fell slightly last week for the third straight time. But initial claims remain above levels that would signal net job gains.

From The Hill: The jobs bill on its way to the president’s desk will not help the black community, Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.) said today.

Millions of Americans have lost jobs and businesses during the worst recession in recent history. This crisis has affected Black Americans disproportionately as many of them live in cities directly hit by crises such as the auto industry bust and discriminatory lending. Have you been affected by the recession? Tell us your story. -NewsOne Staff […]

WASHINGTON – Legislation extending unemployment insurance for the long-term jobless faces a key test vote in the Senate, its momentum helped by about 60 popular tax breaks for individuals and businesses that expired at the end of last year.

From the Washington Post: As Congress focused almost exclusively on health care late last year, the Congressional Black Caucus loudly complained that rising unemployment among African Americans was not getting enough attention.

WASHINGTON – Republicans sparred with President Barack Obamain their Saturday media addresses over proposals to create jobs, further evidence of the difficulty of bipartisan solutions to the nation’s pressing problems.

WASHINGTON — The outlook for jobs remains bleak despite January’s unexpected decline in the U.S. unemployment rate, which fell to 9.7 percent from 10 percent in December.

WASHINGTON – Trimming budget deficits is as important as creating jobs to sustain the economic recovery, President Barack Obama said Saturday.

WASHINGTON — The number of newly-laid off workers seeking jobless benefits unexpectedly rose last week, as the job market recovers at a slow and uneven pace.

From CNN.com: A year after the election of America’s first African-American president, blacks in the United States are expressing optimism about racial progress not seen in a quarter-century, according to a new report by the Pew Research Center.