Unemployment at a Four-Year High

Staff / Truthdig Aug 1, 2008 A government report released Friday signals worsening economic tides as the U.S. tries to navigate through its highest level of unemployment in four years. The seven-month-long trend of net job losses is likely to persist, with few signs of a turnaround on the horizon. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

The Starbucks Economy

Marie Cocco / Truthdig Jul 24, 2008 In its own way, Starbucks has a lot in common with SUVs, hot tubs and television screens wide enough to fill a wall. That is, it represents the bit-by-bit extravagances that helped get us into the tight economic jam we find ourselves in today. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Struggling Economy Deters Working Women

Staff / Truthdig Jul 22, 2008 The percentage of women in their prime earning years who work has gone down, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics The numbers cut across demographics, and have more to do with a sluggish economy and a lack of opportunity than a rekindled interest in child rearing As one congressional economist told The New York Times, "A woman gets laid off and she stays home for six months with her kids She doesn't admit that she is staying home because she could not get another acceptable job". Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

The Do-It-Yourself Economy

Ellen Goodman / Truthdig Jul 17, 2008 We are expected to interact with "labor-saving technology" without realizing that it's labor-transferring technology. The job has not been "saved"; it's been taken out of the paid sector, where employees have a nasty habit of expecting salaries, and put into the unpaid sector, where suckers 'r' us. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Unemployment Takes Its Biggest Jump Since 1986

Staff / Truthdig Jun 6, 2008 In what one economist has called the "strongest evidence yet" that the U.S. is in recession, the country's jobless rate has grown 0.5% since April, the largest monthly jump in more than 20 years. The unemployment rate has been steadily rising this year, with 324,000 jobs lost since January. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

The Wal-Mart Videos

Staff / Truthdig Apr 10, 2008 Hillary Clinton has, for obvious reasons, tried to distance herself from her time on the board of Wal-Mart, the Arkansas company that, for many Democratic voters, emblematizes globalization and all those jobs that were shipped overseas that the candidates keep talking about. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

U.S. Job Loss Highest in 5 Years

Staff / Truthdig Mar 7, 2008 The short month of February was long on economic problems, as 63,000 U.S. jobs were lost over the 29 days. In other words, for those betting that a recession isn't around the corner, the outlook is dim. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Team O’Reilly Grills O’Donnell About 9/11

Staff / Truthdig Oct 31, 2007 Bill O'Reilly -- or rather, a couple of his employees -- took the opportunity to descend upon Rosie O'Donnell at her recent book signing in Huntington, N.Y., and corner her about her supposed belief (which she says O'Reilly incorrectly characterized) that 9/11 was an inside job. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Democrats’ Response to State of the Union: ‘We Will Be Showing Him the Way’

Staff / Truthdig Jan 24, 2007 During his response to President Bush's State of the Union address, Sen. Jim Webb (shown above with congressional leaders Sen. Harry Reid and Rep. Nancy Pelosi) referred to the crises of division and war faced by two of history's better Republican presidents, Teddy Roosevelt and Dwight Eisenhower, and then issued an ultimatum to the current occupant of the White House. Watch it. Dig deeper ( 6 Min. Read )

CIA Uses Humor to Recruit

Staff / Truthdig Nov 28, 2006 The Central Intelligence Agency is using a tongue-in-cheek personality test to attract applicants. "You don't have to know karate or look good in a tuxedo to work at the CIA," the personality quiz says. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Immigrants Don’t Hurt U.S. Jobs, Says Study

Staff / Truthdig Aug 11, 2006 In what could be tantamount to dropping a neutron bomb on xenophobes like Lou Dobbs, a study by the Pew Hispanic Center found that high levels of immigration in the past 15 years do not appear to have hurt employment opportunities for American workers. But some economists question the study's technique. Check out Truthdig's Marc Cooper on the myths of America's immigration debate. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Jobs Report Indicates Economic Cool Down

Staff / Truthdig Jun 2, 2006 Weak employment gains in May (only 75,000 net new jobs) may be a sign of a faltering economy. According to NYT: "Anything below about 150,000 net new jobs a month is regarded as too slow to keep up with population growth, so in effect, workers are losing ground." (story | job report) Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )