Job Growth Surges in January

The U.S. economy entered the new year with a strong gain in payroll employment and an unchanged unemployment rate. Job gains in November and December were much stronger than initially estimated, according to revisions of the establishment survey data. January’s jobs report shows that the job market remains unexpectedly strong despite the impact of the…

Read more

Solid Job Growth in 2023

December’s jobs report concludes another solid year of job hiring in 2023. In December, total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 216,000, and the unemployment rate held steady at 3.7% for the second month. Job gains moderated in 2023 with an average 225,000 monthly employment growth but remained strong. In December, wage growth accelerated to a…

Read more

Job Openings Fall – But Not For Construction

The bond market appears to be responding to cooling macroeconomic data, including labor market reporting, as long-term rates fall back. Among the risk factors that previously led to higher interest rates (more debt issuance, higher-for-longer monetary policy expectations, long-term fiscal deficit conditions, and strong current GDP growth data for the third quarter) was an ongoing,…

Read more

Count of Open Construction Jobs Increases

Financial conditions continue to be tight, as the 10-year Treasury rate stands near 4.8% this morning. Among the factors leading to higher rates (more debt issuance, higher-for-longer monetary policy expectations, long-term fiscal deficit conditions, and strong current GDP growth data for the third quarter) is an ongoing, elevated count of open jobs for the overall…

Read more