United States unemployment rate
The U.S. labor market continued to add new jobs in January, pushing the unemployment rate to the lowest level in nearly three years, in a sign that the economy is recovering from the worst recession in decades. The Bureau of Labor Statistics said January’s unemployment rate fell to 8.3% from 8.5% in December as the economy added 243,000 jobs, a much better result than the 125,000 to 150,000 jobs that many analysts had been expecting.
The overall trend trend in the report pointed to strengthening momentum in the U.S. economy. The number of unemployed persons fell to 12.8 million, the lowest number since February 2009, which was President Obama’s first full month in office. Professional and business services added 70,000 job, while the manufacturing sector increased by 50,000. The construction sector, meanwhile, added 21,000 new jobs.
A broader measure of unemployment, the so-called U-6 figure, which includes those with part-time jobs, fell to 15.1%, down one-tenth of a point. Even the Labor Dept.’s revisions for previous months contained good news. November’s job growth was revised from 100,000 to 157,000, while December’s figure increased from 200,000 to 203,000.
The better-than-expected results came even as the number of government jobs declined by 14,000. The strong data is sure to be welcomed by the White House, which hopes that a strengthening economy boosts President Obama’s re-election hopes.
Despite the good news, the economy has a long way to go before it reaches a full recovery. Some 12.8 million people are still out of work, and the unemployment rate of 8.3% is nearly twice what’s considered healthy. But the data suggests the labor picture continues to move in the right direction.
Source: Times.com
HOUSTON:
Individuals interested in becoming America's future space explorers have until Friday to submit their applications. The deadline to apply for NASA's next astronaut class is Jan. 27.
The agency typically receives as many as 3,500 applicants for each astronaut class. Thus far, NASA has received more than 3,000 applications since November for this class.
"We are excited about the response we have received, and we want to encourage anyone contemplating this dynamic and exciting career to apply," said Peggy Whitson, chief of the Astronaut Office. "We are entering a new phase in human spaceflight with amazing opportunities to live and work in space. We want the best, the brightest and the most talented mix of professionals to join our team."
Those interested in applying for the astronaut corps can submit their applications through the federal government's USAJobs.gov website. Qualifications include a bachelor's degree in engineering, science or math and three years of relevant professional experience. Educators teaching kindergarten through 12th grade also are encouraged to apply.
NASA expects to announce the final selections in 2013 with initial training to begin that summer.
For more information about the astronaut application and selection process and to follow the latest news via NASA accounts on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/flynasa
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