Economy

Employers added jobs in August, but the unemployment rate went up

4:41pm September 01, 2023

by Scott Horsley

U.S. employers added 187,000 jobs in August. The unemployment rate rose, but only because hundreds of thousands of people came off the sidelines and started looking for work.

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A 'Now Hiring' sign is displayed outside a check cashing shop in Los Angeles on June 2, 2023. Employers added 187,000 jobs in August, while the unemployment rate rose to 3.8%.

Economy

The job market continues to expand at a healthy clip as U.S. heads into Labor Day

10:50am September 01, 2023

by Scott Horsley

Employers added 187,000 jobs in August, while the unemployemnt rate rose to 3.8%. The data indicates a steady labor market heading into the Labor Day weekend.

Economy

Employers add enough jobs to keep the unemployment rate near a 50-year low

5:19am September 01, 2023

by Scott Horsley

The Labor Department reports on job gains for July Friday morning. Forecasters expect the report to show a gradual cooling of the job market, with a still-low unemployment rate.

Striking hotel workers rally outside the InterContinental Los Angeles Downtown Hotel on Tuesday, July 4, 2023. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

Political scientists confront real world politics dealing with hotel workers strike

5:00pm August 31, 2023

by Danielle Kaye

The American Political Science Association, or APSA, is holding its annual meeting in Los Angeles this weekend despite calls from striking hotel workers for conferences to stay away from the city.

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Student loan borrower prepares for repayment to resume.

12 things student loan borrowers should know about the return to repayment

9:29am August 31, 2023

by Cory Turner

October's coming, and we're here to help you get ready.

2/3 of Americans approve of unions — slightly down from last year, but still high

7:19pm August 30, 2023

by Andrea Hsu

The latest Gallop poll finds two-thirds of Americans approve of unions. That's down a few percentage points from last year, but continues a trend that stands in sharp contrast to the last six decades.

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A Biden proposal would raise the threshold under which salaried workers are eligible for overtime pay — but it could face opposition from business groups.

Millions of additional salaried workers could get overtime pay under Biden proposal

3:40pm August 30, 2023

by Scott Horsley

A proposal from the Labor Department would make an estimated 3.6 million salaried workers newly eligible for overtime pay. It covers workers earning less than $55,000 per year.

Economy

What's your MBA GPA? Take our Summer School final exam to find out

2:00pm August 30, 2023

These 10 exam questions stand between you and a Planet Money Summer School diploma with your name on it.

Pay-by-the-month subscriptions are increasingly popular. But research suggests people often keep paying long after they intend to.

Yes, people often forget to cancel their monthly subscriptions — and the costs add up

1:30pm August 30, 2023

by Scott Horsley

From streaming TV to razor blades by mail, Americans are buying more goods and services through pay-by-the-month plans. New research shows they often keep paying long after they want to.

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A few tourists stand under a rainbow as the clouds clear at Haleakalā on the island of Maui, Hawaii. Though much of the island is untouched, tourism is down drastically.

On Maui, a desperate plea to tourists: Please return

1:16pm August 30, 2023

by Kirk Siegler

When the deadly wildfires ignited on Maui, tourists were turned away. Three weeks later, business owners are eager for them visit — responsibly.