Washington, D.C. (AP) - Economists say there are some encouraging
signs in September's jobless report, the last before Election Day.
The private sector added 64,000 jobs. But if you factor in a
wave of government layoffs, you get a net loss of 95,000 jobs for
the month.
That leaves nearly 14.8 million people out of work, and at 9.6
percent, America's jobless rate has now topped 9-and-a-half for 14
straight months. That's the longest stretch since the 1930s.
Still, the chief economist for Standard and Poor's sees "very,
very gradual improvement" in the jobs market. David Wyss (wees)
points out most of September's numbers "have plus signs in front
of them instead of minus signs."