Unemployment
Workforce Development names 5 board members
Workforce Development names 5 new board members
Date: 05/29/2012 | Bizblog
Weekly jobless aid applications dip to 370,000
WASHINGTON -- The number of people seeking unemployment benefits changed little last week, signaling modest job growth.The Labor Department said Thursday that weekly applications for benefits dipped by 2,000 to a seasonally adjusted 370,000.
Date: 05/24/2012 | Business
Snohomish County jobless rate plummets to 7.1%
Snohomish County's unemployment rate declined sharply in April to 7.1 percent -- from 9.1 percent a year ago and 8.5 percent last month, according to a report released...
Date: 05/22/2012 | Business
Jobless aid applications steady at 370,000
WASHINGTON -- The number of people seeking U.S. unemployment benefits was unchanged last week, suggesting modest but steady gains in the job market.
Date: 05/17/2012 | Business
U.S. economy perks up after early spring slump
WASHINGTON -- Maybe the U.S. economy's strength this winter wasn't just weather-related after all.Home construction is near a three-year high. And factory output has risen in three of the year's first four months.
Date: 05/16/2012 | Business
State jobless rate falls to 8.1 percent
SEATTLE -- Washington state's unemployment rate fell in April to 8.1 percent, despite a loss of 300 jobs last month, officials said Wednesday.
Date: 05/16/2012 | Business
Spaniards rage against austerity programs
MADRID -- Spaniards angered by increasingly grim economic prospects and unemployment hitting one out of every four citizens protested in droves Saturday in the nation's largest cities, marking the one-year anniversary of a spontaneous movement that inspired similar anti-authority demonstrations...
Date: 05/12/2012 | Nation & World
Obama dives into campaign, rips into Romney (video)
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Plunging into his campaign for a new term, President Barack Obama tore into Mitt Romney on Saturday as a willing and eager "rubber stamp" for conservative Republicans in Congress and an agenda to cut taxes for the rich, reduce spending on education and Medicare and enhance power...
Date: 05/05/2012 | Nation & World
Economy in ‘virtuous,’ if slow, cycle, analysts say
WASHINGTON -- The U.S. economy's recovery looks enduring. It's just not very strong.
Date: 05/04/2012 | Business
Drop in jobless aid requests boosts hopes for hiring
WASHINGTON -- The number of people seeking unemployment benefits fell last week by the most in nearly a year. The figure was a hopeful sign that hiring could pick up in coming months.
Date: 05/03/2012 | Business
Forecast for slow but steady economic growth
WASHINGTON -- The U.S. economy grew more slowly in the first three months of this year. Governments spent less, and businesses cut back on investment. But consumers spent at the fastest pace in more than a year.
Date: 04/27/2012 | Business
Jobless aid requests near 3-month high
WASHINGTON -- The number of people seeking U.S. unemployment benefits remained stuck near a three-month high last week, a sign that job gains will likely remain modest.
Date: 04/26/2012 | Business
How states fared on jobless aid applications
Weekly unemployment benefit applications were little changed last week and remained stuck near a three-month high. That suggests hiring may have slowed after strong job gains this winter.
Date: 04/26/2012 | Bizblog
Economic forecast improves
WASHINGTON -- The Federal Reserve has boosted its outlook for U.S. economic growth this year and is slightly more optimistic about the unemployment rate, reflecting improvements in recent months.
Date: 04/26/2012 | Business
College juniors, now’s the time to start career prep
It's almost May, which means that a new stable of college graduates will exit the classroom and find themselves smack-dab in the middle of a crowded job market. In a perfect world -- or at least a more prosperous one -- these graduates would be thrilled to toss their studies aside and start carving...
Date: 04/25/2012 | Business
Snohomish County unemployment rate dips
Payrolls increased in March by about 2,670 people in Snohomish County, driving down the county's unemployment rate to 8.4 percent, according to a state Employment Security Department report released Tuesday.
Date: 04/24/2012 | Business
States asked to apply for unemployment test plan
WASHINGTON -- The Obama administration is looking for states that will experiment with unemployment insurance programs by letting people test a job while still receiving benefits.
Date: 04/20/2012 | Business
Hiring, home sales may be slowing, reports say
WASHINGTON -- Momentum in U.S. hiring and home sales appears to be slowing, according to fresh data.
Date: 04/19/2012 | Business
State jobless rate stays flat at 8.3 percent
OLYMPIA -- Washington state's unemployment rate for March remained flat at 8.3 percent, but the state added 3,300 jobs last month, marking the third consecutive month of growth, officials said Wednesday.
Date: 04/18/2012 | Business
Applications for jobless aid tick up
WASHINGTON -- More people sought unemployment benefits last week, suggesting that the job market's recovery remains slow.
Date: 04/12/2012 | Business
U.S. jobless claims hit 4-year low of 357K
WASHINGTON -- The number of people seeking U.S. unemployment benefits fell to a four-year low last week, suggesting employers kept hiring in March at a healthy pace.
Date: 04/05/2012 | Business
Public job cuts damage education, safety
WASHINGTON -- Yes, the economy's growing, the unemployment rate is inching down and America is feeling a little bit better about itself. But don't think for a minute that all the lost jobs aren't still taking a severe toll all across this nation -- especially all the chopped government...
Date: 04/05/2012 | Nation & World
Service firms grow at steady pace, boost hiring
WASHINGTON -- U.S. service companies expanded at a healthy pace last month and stepped up hiring, more evidence that the economy is growing and adding jobs.
Date: 04/04/2012 | Business
Jobless benefits to be cut later this month
About 1,455 Snohomish County residents will lose unemployment benefits on April 21, when those benefits get reduced by 26 weeks.
Date: 04/03/2012 | Business
Jobless rates fall in 29 states across the U.S.
Unemployment rates fell last month in most U.S. states, including in some hit hardest during the recession. The Labor Department said Friday that unemployment rates declined in 29 states and rose in 8. Rates were unchanged in 13 states and Washington, D.C. Employers added jobs in 42 states, the...
Date: 03/31/2012 | Business
Jobless claims fall to lowest level in 4 years
WASHINGTON -- The number of people seeking U.S. unemployment benefits dropped last week to the lowest level in four years, adding to evidence that the job market is strengthening.
Date: 03/29/2012 | Business
Snohomish County jobless rate rises slightly
EVERETT -- Snohomish County's unemployment rate edged up from 8.7 percent to 8.9 percent in February, the state Employment Security Department reported Tuesday.
Date: 03/27/2012 | Business
Paine Field training center is a model for success
It's the little center that could.
Date: 03/25/2012 | Business
Reports send mixed message on veterans employment
WASHINGTON -- The unemployment rate for military veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan has dipped recently after months of riding higher than the national average, but some analysts caution it's too early to tell if the progress is real or a blip.
Date: 03/23/2012 | Business
Jobless aid applications hit 4-year low
WASHINGTON -- The number of people seeking U.S. unemployment aid fell to a four-year low last week, bolstering the view that the job market is strengthening.
Date: 03/22/2012 | Business
State's lower jobless rate may reduce weeks of aid
OLYMPIA -- The state's unemployment rate dropped to 8.2 percent last month, an improvement that will likely shorten the number of weeks people can receive unemployment benefits.
Date: 03/21/2012 | Business
February's lower jobless rate likely to lessen benefits
OLYMPIA — Washington gained an estimated 4,200 jobs in February, adding to the state's gradual climb up the employment ladder, the state's Employment Security Department reported Wednesday.
Date: 03/21/2012 | Business
U.S. factories help job recovery endure in March
WASHINGTON -- A resurgent U.S. job market that has lifted the economy appears to be enduring.
Date: 03/15/2012 | Business
Layoffs, other factors bump up county jobless rate
The Snohomish County unemployment rate shot up in January to 8.7 percent from 8 percent in December as more people resumed job searches in the first month of 2012.
Date: 03/13/2012 | Business
Jobless rates fell in 45 states in January
WASHINGTON -- The unemployment rate fell in 45 U.S. states in January, a sign that nearly all of the country is benefiting from an improving economy and job market.
Date: 03/13/2012 | Business
Unions work to mend divisions over Keystone pipeline
WASHINGTON -- Unions may be united in working to re-elect President Barack Obama, but their leaders also are trying to repair bitter divisions over his rejection of an oil pipeline from Canada to Texas.
Date: 03/11/2012 | Nation & World
U.S. adds 227,000 jobs, bolstering recovery hopes
WASHINGTON -- The United States added 227,000 jobs in February in the latest display of the economic recovery's surprising breadth and brawn. The country has put together the strongest three months of pure job growth since the Great Recession.
Date: 03/09/2012 | Business
Jobless aid figures suggest better job market
WASHINGTON -- Slightly more Americans applied for unemployment benefits last week. But the overall level stayed low enough to suggest the job market is strengthening.The Labor Department said Thursday that weekly applications increased by 8,000 to a seasonally adjusted 362,000.
Date: 03/08/2012 | Business
Recovery slow but steady
WASHINGTON -- After years of bad news begetting more bad news, the American economy may finally be building momentum in the other direction.
Date: 03/01/2012 | Business
State unemployment rate drops for fourth straight month
OLYMPIA -- Washington's unemployment rate dropped to 8.3 percent in January, continuing a string of positive labor reports for the state.
Date: 02/29/2012 | Business
Boeing retiree reaching out to help younger unemployed veterans
EVERETT -- Robert Krull remembers what it was like growing up during World War II. Now 75, he feels veterans are treated differently.He's chairman of the Boeing Bluebills Sno-King chapter, a group of Boeing retirees.
Date: 02/29/2012 | Local News
Unemployment aid applications stay at 4-year low
WASHINGTON -- The number of people seeking unemployment aid was unchanged last week and the four-week average of applications fell to its lowest point in four years. The figures add to evidence that show the job market is improving.
Date: 02/23/2012 | Business
Congress cuts length of jobless benefits to maximum of 73 weeks from 99
WASHINGTON -- Millions of Americans will continue to receive long-term unemployment benefits under legislation approved Friday in Congress, but the scope of the program is being scaled back to cover fewer people by the end of the year.
Date: 02/17/2012 | Business
Deal trims maximum jobless benefits to 73 weeks
WASHINGTON — Millions of Americans will continue to receive long-term unemployment benefits under legislation approved Friday in Congress, but the scope of the program is being scaled back to cover fewer people by the end of the year.
Date: 02/17/2012 | Nation & World
Improving job market, other signs boost hopes for economy
WASHINGTON -- The healthier job market that's lifted the economy in recent months shows no signs of slowing.
Date: 02/17/2012 | Business
U.S. unemployment applications drop to a 4-year low
WASHINGTON -- The number of people seeking unemployment benefits in the U.S. fell to the lowest point in almost four years last week, the latest signal that the job market is steadily improving.
Date: 02/16/2012 | Business
Payroll tax bill won't add jobs, House speaker says (Video)
WASHINGTON — A compromise bill extending a payroll tax cut and jobless benefits for the long-term unemployed should be enacted, but it's not going to help the economy very much, House Speaker John Boehner said Thursday.
Date: 02/15/2012 | Nation & World
Unemployment aid applications near a 4-year low
WASHINGTON -- The number of Americans seeking unemployment aid neared a four-year low last week, a positive sign that strong hiring could continue in the coming months.
Date: 02/09/2012 | Business
Low demand, lack of timber blamed for closure of Arlington sawmill, loss of 40 jobs
ARLINGTON -- Another Snohomish County sawmill is closing. The city is losing Northwest Hardwoods, at 20015 67th Ave. NE. It will close Thursday because of a shortage of local timber and low demand for finished products for housing.
Date: 02/08/2012 | Local News
Job openings jump to near a 3-year high
WASHINGTON -- The number of available jobs in the United States jumped in December to near a three-year high, supporting other data that show a brighter outlook for hiring.
Date: 02/07/2012 | Business
A deeper look at unemployment numbers: Who’s counted and who’s not
WASHINGTON -- For most people, the 8.3 percent unemployment rate is the most visible sign of the economy's health. The rate's every movement is closely watched, especially in an election year.
Date: 02/03/2012 | Business
Surge in hiring adds 243,000 jobs in January, dropping unemployment figure to 8.3 percent
WASHINGTON -- In a long-awaited surge of hiring, companies added 243,000 jobs in January -- across the economy, up and down the pay scale and far more than just about anyone expected. Unemployment fell to 8.3 percent, the lowest in three years.
Date: 02/03/2012 | Business
Strong jobs report sends Dow to highest level since 2008
NEW YORK — A drop in the unemployment rate to its lowest in three years propelled the Dow Jones industrial average Friday to its highest close since before the 2008 financial crisis. The Nasdaq composite index hit an 11-year high.
Date: 02/03/2012 | Business
Green-job training put on hold after program produces few jobs
Government-funded training for so-called green jobs has come to a near standstill in Snohomish County, having produced lackluster results.
Date: 02/02/2012 | Business
Unemployment rates fell in 37 states last month
WASHINGTON -- The unemployment rate fell in two-thirds of U.S. states last month, evidence that recent modest improvements in the job market have benefited most regions of the country.
Date: 01/25/2012 | Business
Seattle-Snohomish Mill to close; 50 jobs lost
SNOHOMISH -- After more than 70 years in business, Seattle-Snohomish Mill will close in March.The mill, which employs 50 people, first opened in Snohomish in 1941.
Date: 01/24/2012 | Local News
Networking face to face
Edmonds mixers help those unemployed, underemployed
Date: 01/23/2012 | Business
Don’t give too much weight to unemployment horror stories
Question: In a recent column you wrote, "Don't get discouraged at any time or for any reason." Realistically, it's hard not to get discouraged when it takes 34 weeks for the average 27-year-old to get a job and 56 weeks for the 40-and-older crowd.
Date: 01/11/2012 | Business
Hiring rose in November, but job openings dipped
WASHINGTON -- U.S. employers stepped up their hiring in November but pulled back slightly on the number of jobs they advertised.
Date: 01/11/2012 | Business
Unemployment rate hinges on more than job gains
WASHINGTON -- For most people, the 8.5 percent unemployment rate is the most visible sign of the economy's health. The rate's every movement is closely watched, especially in an election year.
Date: 01/07/2012 | Business
Economy gets 'horsepower' from jobs report
WASHINGTON -- Four painful years after the Great Recession struck and wiped out 8.7 million jobs, the United States may finally be in an elusive pattern known as the virtuous cycle -- an escalating loop of robust job growth, healthier spending and higher demand.
Date: 01/07/2012 | Business
Business boosts hiring
WASHINGTON -- The job market is looking a little brighter at the start of the new year.
Date: 01/06/2012 | Business
2011 ending on 'up note,' economists say
WASHINGTON -- The long-suffering job market is ending the year better off than it began.
Date: 12/30/2011 | Business
There are some reasons for optimism on economy
There are a lot of reasons to be optimistic about our economy's prospects for next year, the first being that 2011 will be over. There are a few things that prompt discouraging words, of course, but it wouldn't be economics without that.
Date: 12/30/2011 | Business
Unemployment claims rise after steady declines
WASHINGTON — The number of people seeking unemployment benefits rose last week after three weeks of decline.
Date: 12/29/2011 | Business
How to get the job you want in 2012
I'm not usually a fan of New Year's resolutions. I prefer change that fizzes up from the inside -- ideas that arise out of authentic, personal goals rather than a specific date on the calendar. But I can't deny that resolutions can be helpful. Especially for people who tend to drag their feet...
Date: 12/28/2011 | Business
Last-minute buyers top off strong shopping season
It's that time for caroling, eggnog, holiday cheer — and for some, a frantic dash to the mall.Last-minute shoppers hit stores on Christmas Eve in a surge that is expected to top off an unexpectedly strong holiday shopping season.
Date: 12/24/2011 | Business
Tax cut survives: Congress votes holiday approval
WASHINGTON — Barely beating Santa's sleigh, Congress delivered a last-minute holiday tax-cut extension to 160 million American wage-earners on Friday, just when it looked like they and millions of unemployed workers were going to be left with coal in their stockings.
Date: 12/23/2011 | Nation & World
Jobless claims fall: 'There is a recovery going on,' economist says
WASHINGTON -- In in the latest sign that the economy is surging at year's end, unemployment claims have dropped to the lowest level since April 2008, long before anyone realized that the nation was in a recession.
Date: 12/23/2011 | Business
Payroll tax increase generates GOP infighting
WASHINGTON _ The Senate is gone, the House is packing up, and for now that means working Americans will see their taxes rise in January.
Date: 12/21/2011 | Nation & World
Some tips for dealing with unemployment
Wouldn't it be nice to have a hefty sum of money set aside for an emergency? If your department is suddenly downsized -- or your company closes its doors unexpectedly -- you could tap the account for as long as necessary. You might even retire. But most people don't have huge piles of cash lying...
Date: 12/21/2011 | Business
President Obama blames GOP for upcoming tax increase
WASHINGTON — Continuing a tax cut of up to $40 a week for workers and unemployment benefits for millions of jobless hit a wall Tuesday as the House rejected a two-month extension of both, and President Barack Obama blamed Republicans for the stalemate.
Date: 12/20/2011 | Nation & World
House passes $1 trillion budget bill, avoids shutdown
WASHINGTON — The House has passed a $1 trillion-plus catchall budget bill paying for day-to-day budgets of 10 Cabinet departments and averting a government shutdown.
Date: 12/15/2011 | Nation & World
1 in 2 Americans are poor or low-income, census shows
WASHINGTON -- Squeezed by rising living costs, a record number of Americans -- nearly 1 in 2 -- have fallen into poverty or are scraping by on earnings that classify them as low income.
Date: 12/15/2011 | Nation & World
U.S. government again faces possible shutdown
WASHINGTON -- A partisan standoff in Congress over President Barack Obama's payroll tax cut for 160 million working Americans threatens to shut down the federal government as soon as this weekend, leaving lawmakers to finish the year careening toward yet another budget crisis.
Date: 12/15/2011 | Nation & World
Snokist announces it will lay off 610 employees
YAKIMA -- Snokist Growers has notified the state it will lay off 610 full and part-time employees in February.
Date: 12/10/2011 | Northwest
Bill would require drug screening for jobless benefits
WASHINGTON — Seeking unemployment benefits? Be prepared to take a drug test if a congressman has his way.
Date: 12/09/2011 | Nation & World
Some of 700 to be let go at Kimberly-Clark could land at Boeing
The Workforce Development Council of Snohomish County has been working with Kimberly-Clark Corp. employees about their options after the company's Everett paper plant closes, and some could find a home at Boeing, counselors say.
Date: 12/08/2011 | Business
Hiring outlook brightens as jobless claims fall
WASHINGTON — A steady decline in the number of people applying for weekly unemployment benefits is the latest signal that the economy has strengthened and businesses may be poised to step up hiring.
Date: 12/08/2011 | Business
Unemployed plan a week of protests in D.C.
WASHINGTON -- Roughly 3,000 unemployed workers from around the country are expected in the nation's capital next week for four days of protests with labor, religious and social justice groups that say Congress cares more about America's wealthiest 1 percent than it does the masses of struggling...
Date: 12/04/2011 | Nation & World
U.S. jobless rate falls to 8.6 percent
WASHINGTON -- The unemployment rate, which has refused to budge from the 9 percent neighborhood for two and a half frustrating years, fell sharply in November, driven in part by small businesses that finally see reason to hope and hire.
Date: 12/03/2011 | Business
Labor market shrinkage lowers Snohomish County jobless rate
EVERETT -- Snohomish County's unemployment rate dropped in October, not because more people found work, but because the labor force dwindled.Uemployment, at 9 percent in September, fell to 8.7 percent last month, the Employment Security Department reported Tuesday.
Date: 11/22/2011 | Business
U.S. economy will grow enough to avoid recession but won’t dent unemployment
The U.S. economy will muddle through the next year without a recession, but growth will be too weak to make much of a dent in the unemployment rate, forecasters believe.
Date: 11/22/2011 | Business
Ways to give, even a little
As hard times drag on, small gifts make a difference
Date: 11/13/2011 | Local News
Tough market for veterans
Their service done, many find their job prospects bleak
Date: 11/11/2011 | Local News
Parts of Obama jobs plan get Senate approval
WASHINGTON -- The Senate overwhelmingly approved provisions from President Barack Obama's jobs plan that found rare bipartisan appeal, including a proposal to give companies tax credits for hiring unemployed veterans.
Date: 11/11/2011 | Nation & World
Fed Chairman Bernanke reaches out to veterans
WASHINGTON -- Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke on Thursday tried to reassure U.S. soldiers, a group hit hard by high unemployment, that the Fed is working to strengthen the economy.
Date: 11/11/2011 | Business
Boomers' anxiety about retirement grows, poll finds
WASHINGTON — A majority of baby boomers say they have taken a financial hit in the past three years and most now doubt that they will be financially secure after they retire, according to a new poll.
Date: 11/10/2011 | Nation & World
Obama to promote ways for veterans to find work
WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama is promoting new ways to help veterans find jobs in a tough economy while pressing Congress to approve tax credits for businesses to hire former members of the military.
Date: 11/08/2011 | Nation & World
How should businesses balance obligations to shareholders, employees, community?
Do small businesses have a moral responsibility to create jobs?Is a company's social responsibility to community more important than the profits a company makes?
Date: 11/07/2011 | Business
Most of the unemployed no longer receiving benefits
The jobs crisis has left so many people out of work for so long that most of America's unemployed are no longer receiving unemployment benefits.
Date: 11/05/2011 | Nation & World
GOP senators block President Obama's jobs bill
WASHINGTON -- Republicans continued their unified front against President Barack Obama's jobs package, blocking $60 billion in funding for road and infrastructure projects despite indications Republicans are sensitive about losing ground on a top issue for voters.
Date: 11/04/2011 | Nation & World
Mayor lashes out at online news site for 'brokest city' rating
COLUMBUS, Ga. — Columbus Mayor Teresa Tomlinson is demanding that an online news organization delete from its website a story declaring that her Georgia community is America's "brokest city."
Date: 11/03/2011 | Nation & World
Poorest poor in U.S. hits new record: 1 in 15 people
WASHINGTON — The ranks of America's poorest poor have climbed to a record high — 1 in 15 people — spread widely across metropolitan areas as the housing bust pushed many inner-city poor into suburbs and other outlying places and shriveled jobs and income.
Date: 11/03/2011 | Nation & World
Jobseeker’s fear: How to deal with it and move ahead
I've heard it said that fear is a powerful motivator. In some situations, this is absolutely true. A real-world danger like an intruder will certainly motivate a response. A less-immediate threat can incite a reaction as well. A negative economic forecast prompts business owners to tighten their...
Date: 11/02/2011 | Business
You don’t want to work for a company that won’t hire the unemployed
During the past year, you may have heard about a hiring practice that actively discriminates against unemployed job hunters. To help screen out candidates for open positions, some companies publish help-wanted advertisements that include phrases such as "Must be currently employed," or "No...
Date: 10/26/2011 | Business
Unemployment in county drops slightly to 9 percent
The jobless rate in Snohomish County dropped slightly in September, according to an Employment Security Department report released Tuesday.
Date: 10/25/2011 | Business
Unemployment rate drops slightly in Snohomish County
EVERETT -- The jobless rate in Snohomish County dropped slightly in September, according to an Employment Security Department report released Tuesday.
Date: 10/25/2011 | SCBJ Extras
Public-sector work fueled rapid growth in Texas jobs
FORT WORTH, Texas -- As Gov. Rick Perry tells it, Texas lawmakers fueled a jobs boom in recent years by getting out of the way of the private sector.
Date: 10/23/2011 | Nation & World
High income workers' share of total wages grows
WASHINGTON — Fifty percent of U.S. workers earned less than $26,364 last year, reflecting a growing income gap between the nation's rich and poor, the government reported Thursday.
Date: 10/20/2011 | Nation & World
(13)
