Unemployment

As the country reels from its financial crisis, a new restaurant, run by a Catholic priest, lets paying daytime customers foot the dinner bill for homeless people to dine with dignity — and style.

President Obama inherited an economy that was cratering, the worst recession since the Great Depression. Slowly, but surely, things have turned around. The job market is strong, but quickly shifting.

The U.S. added 178,000 new jobs in November, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which was about what was expected. However, wages dropped slightly, after an 11-cent gain in October.

Millions of men in their prime working years have dropped out since the 1960s — they aren't working or even looking for a job. Factors including technology, education and family reasons play a role.

Since the last presidential election, a growing economy has sent the unemployment rate plunging. That improvement has changed the political conversation, but it hasn't stopped worries about wages.

For workers who want a raise, this was an encouraging week, with minimum-wage legislation gaining momentum and employers paying more across the board.

The 0.1 percentage-point rise in unemployment was driven by some good news: More people who have been out of work started looking for a job again.

Job gains last month were stronger than in January and outperformed expectations — however, an anticipated rise in wages didn't materialize. Average hourly earnings dropped by three cents an hour.

The latest jobs report showed a surprisingly strong hiring surge, with employers adding 242,000 jobs last month. But a pinch in earnings and hours disappointed those looking for a pickup in paychecks.

The jobless rate fell is at an eight-year low, the government reported today. But for blacks, the rate is still 8.8 percent — a bit lower than worst unemployment whites experienced in the recession.

The January jobs report indicated unemployment was at 4.9 percent, the lowest rate since the recession. But the U.S. only added 151,000 jobs, missing economists' expectations of 190,000 new jobs.