Unemployment, Jobs | featured news

Job growth in the U.S. rebounded higher in July and the unemployment rate edged lower, the government reported Friday, providing a pinch of good news amid turmoil in global markets and intensifying fears of a recession.

Hiring slowed to a near-standstill last month, raising doubts that the economy will rebound in the second half of the year after a spring slump.

Private businesses added a stronger number of jobs in June than expected, according to ADP, while new claims for jobless benefits fell last week.

The number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits unexpectedly rose last week, according to a report on Thursday that could reinforce fears the labor market recovery has stalled.

The nation's job market took a turn for the worse last month as employers sharply pulled back their hiring and the unemployment rate edged up to 9.1%, the Labor Department said Friday.

Are you out of work? Are you looking for a job? If the answer to those questions is "yes," Gov. Nathan Deal has an idea for you: Become a farm worker.

Economists think some of the missing workers have retired, have entered college or are getting by on government disability checks.

More people applied for unemployment benefits last week, the first increase in three weeks and evidence that the job market is still sluggish.

California's unemployment rate ticked down to 11.9% in April after the state added 8,900 jobs, a relatively small number in a state still suffering from the Great Recession.

The number of people applying for unemployment benefits fell sharply for the second straight week, suggesting the job market is slowly recovering.