Economy

Rep. Ro Khanna's case for making the U.S. a leader in manufacturing again

5:22pm January 08, 2023

NPR's Andrew Limbong speaks with Democratic Congressman Ro Khanna, who argues that "a new economic patriotism" can make the U.S. a manufacturing powerhouse once again.

Economy

You need to spend all the money in your Flexible Spending Accounts. Here's why

8:01am January 08, 2023

by Ayesha Rascoe

NPR's Ayesha Rascoe talks with UCLA Professor Steve Bank about why employees must spend all the money in their Flexible Spending Accounts by a certain date or forfeit the balance to their employers.

Economy

Employers slowed their rate of hiring in December, easing the Fed's inflation fears

9:26am January 07, 2023

The U.S. job market is still tight, with an unemployment rate of just 3.5%. Employers slowed their rate of hiring last month, which should ease the Federal Reserve's fears of inflation.

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For the first time in years, some Teslas will qualify for a $7,500 federal tax credit for new electric vehicles. But only some vehicles — and only some buyers — are eligible.

Buying an electric car? You can get a $7,500 tax credit, but it won't be easy

5:00am January 07, 2023

by Camila Domonoske

The government is offering a hefty tax credit to buyers of electric vehicles, but taking advantage of it is not straightforward. Here's what you need to know.

Unemployment has fallen to 3.5%, matching the lowest level in half a century

6:02pm January 06, 2023

by Scott Horsley

U.S. employers added 223,000 jobs last month and the unemployment rate fell to just 3.5%, matching the lowest level in half a century. The overall job market remains tight.

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Southwest Airlines says more than 16,700 of its flights were cancelled between Dec. 21-31, which will cost the company as much as $825 million.

Southwest Airlines' holiday chaos could cost the company as much as $825 million

5:05pm January 06, 2023

by Giulia Heyward

Southwest Airlines says disruptions that led to more than 16,700 cancelled flights over the holidays will have severe financial consequences for the company.

A "Now Hiring" sign is displayed on a storefront in the Adams Morgan heighborhood in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 07, 2022 .

Economy

The U.S. job market is still healthy, but it's slowing down as recession fears mount

9:42am January 06, 2023

by Scott Horsley

U.S. employers added 223,000 jobs in December, as the unemployment rate dipped to 3.5%. Despite some high-profile layoff announcements, the overall job market remains tight.

The current state of China-U.S. relations

6:58pm January 05, 2023

NPR's Mary Louise Kelly talks with Yun Sun, director of the Stimson Center's China program, about the state of relations between the U.S. and China as economic competition ramps up between the two.

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The FTC proposed a new rule banning noncompete agreements. Federal Trade Commission chair Lina M. Khan calls them exploitative and widespread.

Millions of workers are subject to noncompete agreements. They could soon be banned

3:13pm January 05, 2023

by Andrea Hsu

The Federal Trade Commission has proposed a new rule that bans the use of noncompete agreements, calling them an exploitative practice that suppresses wages and hampers innovation.

Employers are struggling to find young workers to take jobs in the skilled trades.

America needs carpenters and plumbers. Try telling that to Gen Z

3:09pm January 05, 2023

by Mary Yang

Baby boomers are aging out of jobs they long dominated like builders, farmers, mechanics Young workers aren't clamoring to take their place.